What stands out worked out from the figures below

Pawtucket has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.3%).

Dudley has the most homeowners (73.1%).

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	Pawtucket	Dudley
People
Population	75,893Highest	11,929Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	37.1±0.8Lowest 5% below U.S.	40.2±2.4Highest 3% above U.S.
	Dudley and Pawtucket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	22.4%±1.6Highest U.S.: 22%	20.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Pawtucket and Dudley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	14.5%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	16.9%±3Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Dudley and Pawtucket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	22.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	24.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.6%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	13.1%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$68,310±$4kLowest 15% below U.S.	$84,604±$12kHighest 5% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$325,500±$8kLowest about the U.S. average	$392,600±$19kHighest 18% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,208±$39Lowest 15% below U.S.	$1,217±$182Highest 14% below U.S.
	Dudley and Pawtucket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,115Highest 32% above U.S.	$3,691Lowest 18% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	45.9%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	47.4%±4.1Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Dudley and Pawtucket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	13.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	6.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	50.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	73.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1947Lowest 33 yrs older than U.S.	1967Highest 13 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minLowest 3% below U.S.	27 minHighest 4% above U.S.
Work from home	9.2%±1.5Highest U.S.: 15.1%	9.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Pawtucket 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	#35 of 38 in RI	#142 of 282 in MA
School district	Blackstone Academy · Pawtucket	Dudley-Charlton Reg
High school in town	William E. Tolman High	Shepherd Hill Regional High
Students per teacherat that high school	14.6Highest	14.3Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

U.S. 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.