Compare towns
Whitman vs Hadley vs Dudley
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Whitman has the most kids (21.1% under 18).
Hadley 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.
| Measure | Whitman | Hadley | Dudley |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,295Highest |
5,306Lowest |
11,929 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4% MA: +7.4% |
+1.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.4±1.8 about the MA average |
45.8±7.1Highest 15% above MA |
40.2±2.4Lowest about the MA average |
| Hadley and Whitman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.1%±3.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
16.2%±4.6Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.6%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
| Whitman and Dudley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15.5%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
24.2%±4.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.9%±3 MA: 17.9% |
| Hadley and Dudley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31.3% MA: 47.3% |
61.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
24.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
10.9%±5.7 MA: 7.9% |
13.1%±2Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Dudley and Hadley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $108,933±$14k 5% above MA |
$119,259±$12kHighest 15% above MA |
$84,604±$12kLowest 19% below MA |
| Hadley and Whitman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $472,700±$12k 16% below MA |
$511,000±$43kHighest 9% below MA |
$392,600±$19kLowest 30% below MA |
| Hadley and Whitman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,771±$151Highest about the MA average |
$1,402±$132 20% below MA |
$1,217±$182Lowest 31% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,824Highest about the MA average |
$5,271 12% below MA |
$3,691Lowest 38% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61.9%±13.4Highest MA: 51.8% |
38.6%±18.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
47.4%±4.1 MA: 51.8% |
| Whitman and Dudley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.9%Highest MA: 10% |
6.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
6.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
73.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.1% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1957Lowest 7 yrs older than MA |
1971Highest 7 yrs newer than MA |
1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 24% above MA |
20 minLowest 33% below MA |
27 min 6% below MA |
| Work from home | 10.8%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
20.1%±7.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
9.1%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Hadley and Whitman 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 | #191 of 282 in MA | #116 of 282 in MA | #142 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Whitman-Hanson | Hadley | Dudley-Charlton Reg |
| High school in town | None in town | Hopkins Academy | Shepherd Hill Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 7.3Lowest |
14.3Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.