Dudley is a small town of 1,996 in North Carolina, with a median household income of $42,022
.
Its cost of living index is 90 (US average = 100), which is
10% below the national average.
Strengths:
Dudley stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, short average commutes.
Trade-offs:
No major red flags stand out in the available data. Whether Dudley is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Dudley city data on this page comes from official government sources —
the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.
Cost of Living
Index: 89.7
Dudley's overall cost of living index is 89.7,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Dudley costs roughly 10% less than the average American city.
Metric
Dudley, NC
National Avg
Median Home Value
$88,900
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$724
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
67.8%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$42,022
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Near National Average
Dudley's violent crime rate is 466.2 per 100,000 residents
— 23% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
466.2 /100k
Property Crime
2567.2 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Dudley is served primarily by Wayne County Public Schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 18.1:1
(slightly above the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Dudley, NC
National Avg
School District
Wayne County Public Schools
—
Elementary Schools
13
—
Middle Schools
9
—
High Schools
11
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
18.1:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
14.9%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
53.9%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Dudley sees average highs of 54.2°F in January
and 91.0°F in July,
with 52.3 inches of annual precipitation
and 2.0 inches of snow per year.
Dudley's cost of living index is 90, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Dudley roughly 10% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $88,900 and median rent is $724/month.
Dudley's violent crime rate is 466.2 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 2567.2 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Dudley are operated by Wayne County Public Schools.
The district has 13 elementary, 9 middle, and 11 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 18.1:1. 14.9% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Dudley, NC has a population of 1,996, a median household income of $42,022, and an unemployment rate of 0.0%.
It offers below-average costs of living, which stretches take-home pay further than in most American cities. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.
Dudley averages 54.2°F in January and 91.0°F in July. Annual rainfall is 52.3 inches
with about 2.0 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Dudley, NC is covered by 1 ZIP code: 28333.
The population of Dudley, North Carolina is 1,996 with a median age of 23.7. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Dudley: cost of living index 90 (100 = US average), median home $88,900, median household income $42,022, crime index 123 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated C. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Dudley side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
