What stands out worked out from the figures below

Milford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).

Dudley has the shortest commute (27 min average).

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	Milford	Dudley
People
Population	30,431Highest	11,929Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+8.5%Highest MA: +7.4%	+4.7%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	38.9±1.8Lowest about the MA average	40.2±2.4Highest about the MA average
	Dudley and Milford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20.7%±2.4Highest MA: 19.4%	20.6%±3.3Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Milford and Dudley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	18.8%±2Highest MA: 17.9%	16.9%±3Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Milford and Dudley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	35.3%Highest MA: 47.3%	24.1%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.9%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9%	13.1%±2Highest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$96,365±$4kHighest 7% below MA	$84,604±$12kLowest 19% below MA
	Milford and Dudley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$476,700±$12kHighest 15% below MA	$392,600±$19kLowest 30% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,909±$137Highest 8% above MA	$1,217±$182Lowest 31% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,869Highest about the MA average	$3,691Lowest 38% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	56.8%±8.5Highest MA: 51.8%	47.4%±4.1Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Milford and Dudley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.6%Highest MA: 10%	6.4%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	65.2%Lowest MA: 62.5%	73.1%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1971Highest 7 yrs newer than MA	1967Lowest 3 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	37 minHighest 27% above MA	27 minLowest 6% below MA
Work from home	14.5%±2.2Highest MA: 18.6%	9.1%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#213 of 282 in MA	#142 of 282 in MA
School district	Milford	Dudley-Charlton Reg
High school in town	Milford High	Shepherd Hill Regional High
Students per teacherat that high school	11.9Lowest	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.