Compare towns
New Salem vs Dudley
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
New Salem has the most people working from home (19.4%).
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.
| Measure | New Salem | Dudley |
|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||
| People | ||
| Population | 1,054Lowest |
11,929Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.7%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.6±2.4Highest 39% above MA |
40.2±2.4Lowest about the MA average |
| Kids under 18 | 14.5%±4.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.6%±3.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Dudley and New Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Age 65+ | 23.7%±6.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.9%±3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| New Salem and Dudley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
24.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
13.1%±2Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||
| Household incomemedian | $79,688±$19kLowest 23% below MA |
$84,604±$12kHighest 19% below MA |
| Dudley and New Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $359,000±$40kLowest 36% below MA |
$392,600±$19kHighest 30% below MA |
| Dudley and New Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,194±$88Lowest 32% below MA |
$1,217±$182Highest 31% below MA |
| Dudley and New Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,509Highest 25% below MA |
$3,691Lowest 38% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 86.7%±25.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
47.4%±4.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Below poverty line | 9.7%Highest MA: 10% |
6.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Highest 9 yrs newer than MA |
1967Lowest 3 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 20% below MA |
27 minHighest 6% below MA |
| Work from home | 19.4%±8Highest MA: 18.6% |
9.1%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| New Salem 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 |
| School district | — | Dudley-Charlton Reg |
| High school in town | — | Shepherd Hill Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.3 |
| 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.