What stands out worked out from the figures below

Easthampton has the most people working from home (19%).

Dudley has the most kids (20.6% under 18).

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	Easthampton	Dudley
People
Population	16,086Highest	11,929Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	+4.7% MA: +7.4%
Median age	46±2.6Highest 15% above MA	40.2±2.4Lowest about the MA average
Kids under 18	15.5%±2.4Lowest MA: 19.4%	20.6%±3.3Highest MA: 19.4%
	Dudley and Easthampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	23.9%±3Highest MA: 17.9%	16.9%±3Lowest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	38%Highest MA: 47.3%	24.1%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.1%±1.9Lowest MA: 7.9%	13.1%±2Highest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$71,673±$7kLowest 31% below MA	$84,604±$12kHighest 19% below MA
	Dudley and Easthampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$371,500±$15kLowest 34% below MA	$392,600±$19kHighest 30% below MA
	Dudley and Easthampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,292±$70Highest 27% below MA	$1,217±$182Lowest 31% below MA
	Easthampton and Dudley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,932Highest 18% below MA	$3,691Lowest 38% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	45.5%±10.7Lowest MA: 51.8%	47.4%±4.1Highest MA: 51.8%
	Dudley and Easthampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8%Highest MA: 10%	6.4%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	58.4%Lowest MA: 62.5%	73.1%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1966Lowest 2 yrs newer than MA	1967Highest 3 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	22 minLowest 23% below MA	27 minHighest 6% below MA
Work from home	19%±3.2Highest MA: 18.6%	9.1%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#92 of 282 in MA	#142 of 282 in MA
School district	Easthampton	Dudley-Charlton Reg
High school in town	Easthampton High	Shepherd Hill Regional High
Students per teacherat that high school	9.8Lowest	14.3Highest
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.