What stands out worked out from the figures below

Washington has the most people working from home (20.1%).

Dudley has the most affordable homes ($393k median).

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	Washington	Dudley
People
Population	3,676Lowest	11,929Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	+4.7% U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	49.9±5.5Highest 28% above U.S.	40.2±2.4Lowest 3% above U.S.
Kids under 18	19%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22%	20.6%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22%
	Dudley and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	26.9%±5.3Highest U.S.: 17.2%	16.9%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	53.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	24.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.4%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	13.1%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$101,549±$16kHighest 26% above U.S.	$84,604±$12kLowest 5% above U.S.
	Washington and Dudley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$660,200±$130kHighest 98% above U.S.	$392,600±$19kLowest 18% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,204±$264Lowest 15% below U.S.	$1,217±$182Highest 14% below U.S.
	Dudley and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,709Highest 51% above U.S.	$3,691Lowest 18% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	26.1%±24Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	47.4%±4.1Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Dudley and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	9%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	6.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	79%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	73.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1971Highest 9 yrs older than U.S.	1967Lowest 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	20.1%±9Highest U.S.: 15.1%	9.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Washington 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	#17 of 149 in CT	#142 of 282 in MA
School district	Regional School District 12	Dudley-Charlton Reg
High school in town	Shepaug Valley School	Shepherd Hill Regional High
Students per teacherat that high school	9.1Lowest	14.3Highest
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.