Compare towns
Berlin 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
Berlin has the most people working from home (29.1%).
Dudley has the shortest commute (27 min average).
Webster has the most renters (54.5% 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 | Berlin | Dudley | Webster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,378Lowest |
11,929 |
12,228Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.7%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.9% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.7±2.8Highest 24% above MA |
40.2±2.4 about the MA average |
37.2±2.1Lowest 7% below MA |
| Kids under 18 | 13.4%±4.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.6%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
21.8%±3.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Webster and Dudley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 30.1%±5.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.9%±3 MA: 17.9% |
15.7%±2.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
24.1% MA: 47.3% |
18.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±2.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
13.1%±2Highest MA: 7.9% |
6%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $121,336±$12kHighest 17% above MA |
$84,604±$12k 19% below MA |
$63,837±$8kLowest 39% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $616,600±$55kHighest 10% above MA |
$392,600±$19k 30% below MA |
$333,100±$14kLowest 41% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,420±$933Highest 37% above MA |
$1,217±$182 31% below MA |
$1,198±$85Lowest 32% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,116Highest 19% above MA |
$3,691 38% below MA |
$3,234Lowest 46% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.6%±19.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
47.4%±4.1 MA: 51.8% |
46.1%±7.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Berlin and Dudley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5%Lowest MA: 10% |
6.4% MA: 10% |
16%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.1% MA: 62.5% |
45.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1992Highest 28 yrs newer than MA |
1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
1954Lowest 10 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 17% above MA |
27 minLowest 6% below MA |
28 min 5% below MA |
| Work from home | 29.1%±6.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
9.1%±2.5 MA: 18.6% |
7.1%±2.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #61 of 282 in MA | #142 of 282 in MA | #271 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Berlin-Boylston | Dudley-Charlton Reg | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Shepherd Hill Regional High | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.3 |
— |
| 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.