Compare towns

Dover 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

Dover has the most people working from home (37.4%).
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.

MeasureDoverDudleyWebster
People
Population
2,308Lowest
11,929
12,228Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+8.3%Highest
MA: +7.4%
+4.7%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
+6.9%
MA: +7.4%
Median age
47.5±4Highest
19% above MA
40.2±2.4
about the MA average
37.2±2.1Lowest
7% below MA
Kids under 18
20.9%±4.8
MA: 19.4%
20.6%±3.3Lowest
MA: 19.4%
21.8%±3.6Highest
MA: 19.4%
Webster and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
15.5%±3.5Lowest
MA: 17.9%
16.9%±3Highest
MA: 17.9%
15.7%±2.5
MA: 17.9%
Dudley and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
83.4%Highest
MA: 47.3%
24.1%
MA: 47.3%
18.8%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
9.4%±4.8
MA: 7.9%
13.1%±2Highest
MA: 7.9%
6%±1.8Lowest
MA: 7.9%
Dudley and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$250,001Highest
140% above MA
$84,604±$12k
19% below MA
$63,837±$8kLowest
39% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$1,308,300±$149kHighest
133% above MA
$392,600±$19k
30% below MA
$333,100±$14kLowest
41% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly —
$1,217±$182Highest
31% below MA
$1,198±$85Lowest
32% below MA
Dudley and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$10,000+Highest
at least 67% above MA
$3,691
38% below MA
$3,234Lowest
46% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
100%±100Highest
MA: 51.8%
47.4%±4.1
MA: 51.8%
46.1%±7.4Lowest
MA: 51.8%
Dover and Dudley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
3.3%Lowest
MA: 10%
6.4%
MA: 10%
16%Highest
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
97.9%Highest
MA: 62.5%
73.1%
MA: 62.5%
45.5%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1967Highest
3 yrs newer than MA
1967Highest
3 yrs newer than MA
1954Lowest
10 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
37 minHighest
26% above MA
27 minLowest
6% below MA
28 min
5% below MA
Work from home
37.4%±8.8Highest
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 #1 of 282 in MA #142 of 282 in MA #271 of 282 in MA
School district — Dudley-Charlton Reg —
High school in town — Shepherd Hill Regional High —
Students per teacherat that high school —
14.3
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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.