Compare towns
Winchendon vs Mapleton vs Dudley
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Winchendon has the most people working from home (11.2%).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
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 | Winchendon | Mapleton | Dudley |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,440 |
1,884Lowest |
11,929Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.6±1.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
41.8±6Highest 7% above U.S. |
40.2±2.4 3% above U.S. |
| Mapleton and Dudley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.8%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Mapleton and Winchendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.9%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.3%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.9%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Mapleton and Winchendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
24.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
13.1%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $75,690±$14kLowest 6% below U.S. |
$91,731±$25kHighest 14% above U.S. |
$84,604±$12k 5% above U.S. |
| Mapleton and Dudley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $323,800±$19k about the U.S. average |
$191,800±$23kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$392,600±$19kHighest 18% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,255±$163Highest 11% below U.S. |
$610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$1,217±$182 14% below U.S. |
| Winchendon and Dudley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,780Highest 21% above U.S. |
$1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
$3,691 18% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61.7%±17.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.4%±4.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Winchendon and Dudley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 18.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
27 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.2%±3.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Winchendon and Mapleton 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 | #269 of 282 in MA | — | #142 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Winchendon | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Dudley-Charlton Reg |
| High school in town | Murdock High School | None in town | Shepherd Hill Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.3Lowest |
— | 14.3Highest |
| 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.