What stands out worked out from the figures below

Dudley has the most homeowners (73.1%).

Worcester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.1%).

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	Worcester
People
Population	11,929Lowest	207,055Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.7%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+14.1%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	40.2±2.4Highest about the MA average	33.9±0.5Lowest 15% below MA
Kids under 18	20.6%±3.3Highest MA: 19.4%	19.6%±0.8Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Dudley and Worcester 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%	13.3%±0.6Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Dudley and Worcester 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%	35.2%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	13.1%±2Lowest MA: 7.9%	14.1%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9%
	Worcester and Dudley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$84,604±$12kHighest 19% below MA	$70,102±$2kLowest 33% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$392,600±$19kHighest 30% below MA	$374,400±$7kLowest 33% below MA
	Dudley and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,217±$182Lowest 31% below MA	$1,487±$38Highest 16% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,691Lowest 38% below MA	$4,733Highest 21% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	47.4%±4.1Lowest MA: 51.8%	54.2%±2.9Highest MA: 51.8%
	Worcester 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%	19.6%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	73.1%Highest MA: 62.5%	42.8%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1967Highest 3 yrs newer than MA	1951Lowest 13 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minHighest 6% below MA	24 minLowest 17% below MA
Work from home	9.1%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6%	11.5%±1Highest MA: 18.6%
	Worcester 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	#266 of 282 in MA
School district	Dudley-Charlton Reg	Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester
High school in town	Shepherd Hill Regional High	South High Community
Students per teacherat that high school	14.3Lowest	14.6Highest
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.