Compare towns
Dudley vs Walpole 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.7%).
Walpole has the shortest commute (23 min average).
Oxford has the most people working from home (16.4%).
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 | Walpole | Oxford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,929 |
3,690Lowest |
13,385Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.2±2.4Lowest 3% above U.S. |
46.5±10.4Highest 20% above U.S. |
42±2.8 8% above U.S. |
| Walpole and Oxford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Walpole and Oxford 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% |
25.5%±5.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.6%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
29.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.1%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.7%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $84,604±$12k 5% above U.S. |
$82,617±$16kLowest about the U.S. average |
$103,862±$10kHighest 29% above U.S. |
| Oxford and Dudley 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. |
$319,800±$48kLowest 4% 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±$182Highest 14% below U.S. |
$1,165±$150Lowest 18% below U.S. |
$1,177±$142 17% below U.S. |
| Dudley and Oxford 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. |
$6,078Highest 95% above U.S. |
$4,622 48% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.4%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.6%±21.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.8%±15.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Oxford and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1972Highest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 4% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 7% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.1%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.2%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #142 of 282 in MA | #27 of 120 in NH | #245 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dudley-Charlton Reg | Fall Mountain Regional School District | Oxford |
| High school in town | Shepherd Hill Regional High | None in town | Oxford High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.3Highest |
— | 10.3Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.