What stands out worked out from the figures below

Leicester has the most people working from home (13.1%).

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

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	Leicester	Dudley
People
Population	11,113Lowest	11,929Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+1.1%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+4.7%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	42.4±3.5Highest 6% above MA	40.2±2.4Lowest about the MA average
	Leicester and Dudley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20.2%±3.8Lowest MA: 19.4%	20.6%±3.3Highest MA: 19.4%
	Dudley and Leicester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	18.9%±3.4Highest MA: 17.9%	16.9%±3Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Leicester and Dudley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	31%Highest MA: 47.3%	24.1%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.3%±1.9Lowest MA: 7.9%	13.1%±2Highest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$105,173±$9kHighest about the MA average	$84,604±$12kLowest 19% below MA
	Leicester and Dudley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$413,100±$23kHighest 27% below MA	$392,600±$19kLowest 30% below MA
	Leicester and Dudley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,487±$258Highest 16% below MA	$1,217±$182Lowest 31% below MA
	Leicester and Dudley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,452Highest 26% below MA	$3,691Lowest 38% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	29.7%±14.8Lowest MA: 51.8%	47.4%±4.1Highest MA: 51.8%
	Dudley and Leicester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	3.8%Lowest MA: 10%	6.4%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	88.5%Highest MA: 62.5%	73.1%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1965Lowest 1 yr newer than MA	1967Highest 3 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minLowest 6% below MA	27 minHighest 6% below MA
Work from home	13.1%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6%	9.1%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Leicester 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	#222 of 282 in MA	#142 of 282 in MA
School district	Leicester	Dudley-Charlton Reg
High school in town	Leicester High	Shepherd Hill Regional High
Students per teacherat that high school	10.7Lowest	14.3Highest
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.