Compare towns
Dudley vs Barre vs Whitman vs Webster
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dudley has the shortest commute (27 min average).
Barre has the oldest population (median age 43.8).
Whitman has the most expensive homes ($473k median).
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 | Dudley | Barre | Whitman | Webster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,929 |
5,572Lowest |
15,295 |
17,748Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.7% MA: +7.4% |
+2.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4% MA: +7.4% |
+6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.2±2.4 about the MA average |
43.8±8.5Highest 9% above MA |
40.4±1.8 about the MA average |
39.9±2.9Lowest about the MA average |
| Barre and Whitman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.6%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
15.8%±5.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.1%±3.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±2.9 MA: 19.4% |
| Whitman and Dudley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 16.9%±3 MA: 17.9% |
19%±5.6 MA: 17.9% |
15.5%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.6%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Webster and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
31.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
31.3% MA: 47.3% |
25.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.1%±2Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±3.2 MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.8%±1.6 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $84,604±$12k 19% below MA |
$107,727±$13k 4% above MA |
$108,933±$14kHighest 5% above MA |
$72,895±$6kLowest 30% below MA |
| Whitman and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $392,600±$19k 30% below MA |
$394,300±$55k 30% below MA |
$472,700±$12kHighest 16% below MA |
$361,500±$12kLowest 36% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,217±$182 31% below MA |
$1,030±$713Lowest 42% below MA |
$1,771±$151Highest about the MA average |
$1,228±$81 30% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,691Lowest 38% below MA |
$5,163 14% below MA |
$5,824Highest about the MA average |
$3,999 33% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.4%±4.1 MA: 51.8% |
38.2%±27.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
61.9%±13.4Highest MA: 51.8% |
45.7%±6.7 MA: 51.8% |
| Whitman and Dudley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
8.2% MA: 10% |
7.9% MA: 10% |
12.7%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.1% MA: 62.5% |
75.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
71.4% MA: 62.5% |
59.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
1971Highest 7 yrs newer than MA |
1957Lowest 7 yrs older than MA |
1962 2 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 6% below MA |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
36 min 24% above MA |
31 min 5% above MA |
| Work from home | 9.1%±2.5 MA: 18.6% |
11.2%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.8%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
8%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Barre and Whitman 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 | #142 of 282 in MA | #134 of 282 in MA | #191 of 282 in MA | #271 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dudley-Charlton Reg | Quabbin | Whitman-Hanson | Webster |
| High school in town | Shepherd Hill Regional High | Quabbin Regional High School | None in town | Bartlett High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.3Highest |
12.9 |
— | 11.6Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.