Compare towns
Dudley vs Union vs Chaplin vs Oxford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dudley has the most renters (26.9% rent).
Union has the oldest population (median age 49.9).
Chaplin has the most affordable homes ($255k median).
Oxford has the highest household income ($104k).
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 | Union | Chaplin | Oxford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,929 |
944Lowest |
2,070 |
13,385Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — | -2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.2±2.4Lowest 3% above U.S. |
49.9±4.3Highest 28% above U.S. |
43.7±4.8 12% above U.S. |
42±2.8 8% above U.S. |
| Union and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
15.7%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Oxford and Dudley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 16.9%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.5%±2.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.9%±4.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.6%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Union and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
24%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
25.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
29.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.1%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
10.1%±6.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.7%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dudley and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $84,604±$12kLowest 5% above U.S. |
$88,958±$14k 10% above U.S. |
$97,846±$14k 21% above U.S. |
$103,862±$10kHighest 29% above U.S. |
| Oxford and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $392,600±$19kHighest 18% above U.S. |
$330,400±$26k about the U.S. average |
$255,200±$24kLowest 23% below U.S. |
$374,900±$18k 13% above U.S. |
| Dudley and Oxford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,217±$182 14% below U.S. |
— | $1,473±$275Highest 4% above U.S. |
$1,177±$142Lowest 17% below U.S. |
| Chaplin and Dudley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,691Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$4,793Highest 54% above U.S. |
$4,524 45% above U.S. |
$4,622 48% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.4%±4.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
90%±64.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
33.6%±27.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.8%±15.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Union and Oxford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
28 min 7% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.1%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±10Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.4%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Chaplin and Oxford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #142 of 282 in MA | — | — | #245 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dudley-Charlton Reg | Union School District | Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 | Oxford |
| High school in town | Shepherd Hill Regional High | None in town | Parish Hill High School | Oxford High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.3Highest |
— | 7.5Lowest |
10.3 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.