What stands out worked out from the figures below

Dudley has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.7%).

Warren has the most affordable homes ($334k median).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Dudley	Warren
People
Population	11,929Highest	5,009Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.7%Highest MA: +7.4%	-3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	40.2±2.4Highest about the MA average	38.7±7.3Lowest 3% below MA
	Dudley and Warren 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%	20.8%±8Highest MA: 19.4%
	Warren and Dudley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	16.9%±3Highest MA: 17.9%	14.6%±4.5Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Dudley and Warren are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	24.1%Highest MA: 47.3%	23.2%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	13.1%±2Highest MA: 7.9%	2.9%±2.1Lowest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$84,604±$12kHighest 19% below MA	$66,082±$6kLowest 36% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$392,600±$19kHighest 30% below MA	$333,700±$35kLowest 41% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,217±$182Highest 31% below MA	$890±$174Lowest 49% below MA
	Dudley and Warren are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,691Lowest 38% below MA	$4,530Highest 24% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	47.4%±4.1Highest MA: 51.8%	29.7%±18.4Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Dudley and Warren 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%	9%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	73.1%Highest MA: 62.5%	64.5%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1967Lowest 3 yrs newer than MA	1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minLowest 6% below MA	33 minHighest 13% above MA
Work from home	9.1%±2.5Highest MA: 18.6%	8.5%±5.4Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Dudley and Warren 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	#165 of 282 in MA
School district	Dudley-Charlton Reg	Quaboag Regional
High school in town	Shepherd Hill Regional High	Quaboag Regional High
Students per teacherat that high school	14.3Highest	10.0Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.