Compare towns
Dudley vs Worcester vs Winchendon
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 highest household income ($85k).
Worcester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.1%).
Winchendon has the most affordable homes ($324k 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.
| Measure | Dudley | Worcester | Winchendon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,929 |
207,055Highest |
10,440Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.7% MA: +7.4% |
+14.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+0.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.2±2.4Highest about the MA average |
33.9±0.5Lowest 15% below MA |
39.6±1.9 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%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±0.8Lowest 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%±3Highest MA: 17.9% |
13.3%±0.6Lowest MA: 17.9% |
16.9%±2.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24.1% MA: 47.3% |
35.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
21.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.1%±2 MA: 7.9% |
14.1%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±1.5Lowest 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 |
$75,690±$14k 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 |
$374,400±$7k 33% below MA |
$323,800±$19kLowest 42% 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 |
$1,255±$163 29% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,691Lowest 38% below MA |
$4,733Highest 21% below MA |
$3,780 37% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.4%±4.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
54.2%±2.9 MA: 51.8% |
61.7%±17.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Winchendon and Worcester 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% |
18.5% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.1% MA: 62.5% |
42.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
76.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
1951Lowest 13 yrs older than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 6% below MA |
24 minLowest 17% below MA |
32 minHighest 11% above MA |
| Work from home | 9.1%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
11.5%±1Highest MA: 18.6% |
11.2%±3.1 MA: 18.6% |
| Worcester and Winchendon 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 | #269 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dudley-Charlton Reg | Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester | Winchendon |
| High school in town | Shepherd Hill Regional High | South High Community | Murdock High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.3 |
14.6Highest |
11.3Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → |
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.