Compare towns
Unity vs Dudley vs Alexandria
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Unity has the most affordable homes ($276k median).
Dudley has the most kids (20.6% under 18).
Alexandria has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.1%).
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.
| Measure | Unity | Dudley | Alexandria |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,375Lowest |
11,929Highest |
1,983 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -9.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 58±4.5Highest 49% above U.S. |
40.2±2.4Lowest 3% above U.S. |
52.6±5 35% above U.S. |
| Unity and Alexandria are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 12%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.6%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.3%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Dudley and Alexandria are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 34.9%±7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.9%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.2%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Unity and Alexandria are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
24.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
25.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
13.1%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $87,500±$16k 8% above U.S. |
$84,604±$12kLowest 5% above U.S. |
$89,194±$8kHighest 10% above U.S. |
| Alexandria and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $276,100±$29kLowest 17% below U.S. |
$392,600±$19kHighest 18% above U.S. |
$323,300±$27k about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,625±$804Highest 15% above U.S. |
$1,217±$182 14% below U.S. |
$1,135±$273Lowest 20% below U.S. |
| Unity and Dudley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,394Highest 73% above U.S. |
$3,691Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$5,021 61% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.4%±4.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.6%±40.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Alexandria and Dudley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 32% above U.S. |
27 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 38% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.5%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.4%±5.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Alexandria and Unity 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 | Unity School District | Dudley-Charlton Reg | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Shepherd Hill Regional High | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.3 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.