Compare towns
Dudley vs Wakefield vs Oxford
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 youngest population (median age 40.2).
Wakefield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.7%).
Oxford has the most homeowners (82.8%).
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 | Wakefield | Oxford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,929Lowest |
27,793Highest |
13,385 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.7% MA: +7.4% |
+8.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.2±2.4Lowest about the MA average |
42.4±1.7Highest 6% above MA |
42±2.8 5% above MA |
| Wakefield and Oxford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.6%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
20%±2.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.3%±3.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
| 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 MA: 17.9% |
19%±1.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.6%±2.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Wakefield 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% |
59.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
29.6% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.1%±2Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.7%±2.1 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $84,604±$12kLowest 19% below MA |
$134,306±$14kHighest 29% above MA |
$103,862±$10k about the MA average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $392,600±$19k 30% below MA |
$723,500±$24kHighest 29% above MA |
$374,900±$18kLowest 33% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,217±$182 31% below MA |
$1,958±$102Highest 11% above MA |
$1,177±$142Lowest 33% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,691Lowest 38% below MA |
$7,779Highest 30% above MA |
$4,622 23% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.4%±4.1 MA: 51.8% |
43.7%±7.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
57.8%±15.9Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Oxford and Dudley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.4% MA: 10% |
4.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.7%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.1% MA: 62.5% |
70.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
82.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1972Highest 8 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 6% below MA |
33 minHighest 14% above MA |
28 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 9.1%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
24.6%±3.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
16.4%±4.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #142 of 282 in MA | #179 of 282 in MA | #245 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dudley-Charlton Reg | Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational Technical · Wakefield | Oxford |
| High school in town | Shepherd Hill Regional High | Northeast Metro Regional Vocational | Oxford High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.3Highest |
10.7 |
10.3Lowest |
| 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.