Compare towns
Adams vs Dudley vs Webster
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Adams has the most affordable homes ($210k median).
Dudley has the most homeowners (73.1%).
Webster has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
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 | Adams | Dudley | Webster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,074Lowest |
11,929 |
17,748Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.7% MA: +7.4% |
+6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.3±3.3Highest 18% above MA |
40.2±2.4 about the MA average |
39.9±2.9Lowest about the MA average |
| Kids under 18 | 15.7%±3.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.6%±3.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±2.9 MA: 19.4% |
| Dudley and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 25.2%±3.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.9%±3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.6%±2.5 MA: 17.9% |
| Adams and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24.5% MA: 47.3% |
24.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
25.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
13.1%±2Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.8%±1.6 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $58,929±$6kLowest 43% below MA |
$84,604±$12kHighest 19% below MA |
$72,895±$6k 30% below MA |
| Dudley and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $209,900±$15kLowest 63% below MA |
$392,600±$19kHighest 30% below MA |
$361,500±$12k 36% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $963±$74Lowest 45% below MA |
$1,217±$182 31% below MA |
$1,228±$81Highest 30% below MA |
| Webster and Dudley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,638Lowest 39% below MA |
$3,691 38% below MA |
$3,999Highest 33% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.1%±10.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
47.4%±4.1 MA: 51.8% |
45.7%±6.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Below poverty line | 13.2%Highest MA: 10% |
6.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
12.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62.1% MA: 62.5% |
73.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
59.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1967Highest 3 yrs newer than MA |
1962 2 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 19% below MA |
27 min 6% below MA |
31 minHighest 5% above MA |
| Work from home | 8.3%±2.8 MA: 18.6% |
9.1%±2.5Highest MA: 18.6% |
8%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Dudley and Adams 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 | #230 of 282 in MA | #142 of 282 in MA | #271 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hoosac Valley Regional | Dudley-Charlton Reg | Webster |
| High school in town | None in town | Shepherd Hill Regional High | Bartlett High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.3Highest |
11.6Lowest |
| 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.