Compare towns
Dudley vs Topsfield vs Whitman
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dudley has the most affordable homes ($393k median).
Topsfield has the most people working from home (29.4%).
Whitman has the most renters (28.6% rent).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Dudley | Topsfield | Whitman |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,929 |
6,564Lowest |
15,295Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.7% MA: +7.4% |
+8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.2±2.4Lowest about the MA average |
42.2±1.8Highest 6% above MA |
40.4±1.8 about the MA average |
| Topsfield and Whitman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.6%±3.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
24.8%±4.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.1%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
| Topsfield and Whitman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.9%±3 MA: 17.9% |
22.4%±3.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
15.5%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Topsfield and Dudley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
71.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
31.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.1%±2Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±1.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $84,604±$12kLowest 19% below MA |
$195,718±$16kHighest 88% above MA |
$108,933±$14k 5% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $392,600±$19kLowest 30% below MA |
$853,400±$40kHighest 52% above MA |
$472,700±$12k 16% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,217±$182 31% below MA |
$1,115±$538Lowest 37% below MA |
$1,771±$151Highest about the MA average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,691Lowest 38% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$5,824 about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.4%±4.1 MA: 51.8% |
41.9%±40.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
61.9%±13.4Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Whitman and Dudley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.5% MA: 10% |
7.9%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.1% MA: 62.5% |
90.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
71.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
1969Highest 5 yrs newer than MA |
1957Lowest 7 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 6% below MA |
28 min 5% below MA |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
| Work from home | 9.1%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
29.4%±8.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.8%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #142 of 282 in MA | #172 of 282 in MA | #191 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dudley-Charlton Reg | Topsfield | Whitman-Hanson |
| High school in town | Shepherd Hill Regional High | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.3 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
MA average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.