What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Winchendon has the most people working from home (11.2%).

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	Winchendon
People
Population	11,929Highest	10,440Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.7%Highest MA: +7.4%	+0.6%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	40.2±2.4Highest about the MA average	39.6±1.9Lowest about the MA average
	Dudley and Winchendon 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%	21.8%±3.9Highest MA: 19.4%
	Winchendon 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%	16.9%±2.7 MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	24.1%Highest MA: 47.3%	21.4%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	13.1%±2Highest MA: 7.9%	4.5%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$84,604±$12kHighest 19% below MA	$75,690±$14kLowest 27% below MA
	Dudley and Winchendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$392,600±$19kHighest 30% below MA	$323,800±$19kLowest 42% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,217±$182Lowest 31% below MA	$1,255±$163Highest 29% below MA
	Winchendon and Dudley 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	$3,780Highest 37% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	47.4%±4.1Lowest MA: 51.8%	61.7%±17.6Highest MA: 51.8%
	Winchendon 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%	18.5%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	73.1%Lowest MA: 62.5%	76.6%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1967Lowest 3 yrs newer than MA	1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minLowest 6% below MA	32 minHighest 11% above MA
Work from home	9.1%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6%	11.2%±3.1Highest MA: 18.6%
	Winchendon and Dudley 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	#269 of 282 in MA
School district	Dudley-Charlton Reg	Winchendon
High school in town	Shepherd Hill Regional High	Murdock High School
Students per teacherat that high school	14.3Highest	11.3Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.