Compare towns
Ayer 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
Ayer has the most people working from home (21.6%).
Dudley has the shortest commute (27 min average).
Webster has the most renters (40.2% rent).
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 | Ayer | Dudley | Webster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,645Lowest |
11,929 |
17,748Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.7%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.2±2.8Lowest about the MA average |
40.2±2.4Highest about the MA average |
39.9±2.9 about the MA average |
| Dudley and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.3%±3.9 MA: 19.4% |
20.6%±3.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±2.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Dudley and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 14.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
16.9%±3 MA: 17.9% |
19.6%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Webster and Dudley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
24.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
25.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
13.1%±2Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.8%±1.6 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $101,875±$15kHighest about the MA average |
$84,604±$12k 19% below MA |
$72,895±$6kLowest 30% below MA |
| Ayer and Dudley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $463,800±$29kHighest 17% below MA |
$392,600±$19k 30% below MA |
$361,500±$12kLowest 36% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,415±$180Highest 20% below MA |
$1,217±$182Lowest 31% below MA |
$1,228±$81 30% below MA |
| Ayer and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,057Highest 16% below MA |
$3,691Lowest 38% below MA |
$3,999 33% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±14.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
47.4%±4.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
45.7%±6.7 MA: 51.8% |
| Dudley and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.7% MA: 10% |
6.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
12.7%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2% MA: 62.5% |
73.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
59.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
1962Lowest 2 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 13% above MA |
27 minLowest 6% below MA |
31 min 5% above MA |
| Work from home | 21.6%±5.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
9.1%±2.5 MA: 18.6% |
8%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #113 of 282 in MA | #142 of 282 in MA | #271 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ayer Shirley School District | Dudley-Charlton Reg | Webster |
| High school in town | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | Shepherd Hill Regional High | Bartlett High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.5Lowest |
14.3Highest |
11.6 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 12 photos → | 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.