Compare towns
Dudley vs Berlin vs Webster vs Whitman
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).
Berlin has the most people working from home (29.1%).
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 | Dudley | Berlin | Webster | Whitman |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,929 |
3,378Lowest |
12,228 |
15,295Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.7% MA: +7.4% |
+10.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6.9% MA: +7.4% |
+4.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.2±2.4 about the MA average |
49.7±2.8Highest 24% above MA |
37.2±2.1Lowest 7% below MA |
40.4±1.8 about the MA average |
| Kids under 18 | 20.6%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
13.4%±4.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.8%±3.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.1%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
| Webster and Whitman 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% |
30.1%±5.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
15.7%±2.5 MA: 17.9% |
15.5%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24.1% MA: 47.3% |
48.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
18.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
31.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.1%±2Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±2.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $84,604±$12k 19% below MA |
$121,336±$12kHighest 17% above MA |
$63,837±$8kLowest 39% below MA |
$108,933±$14k 5% above MA |
| Berlin and Whitman 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 |
$616,600±$55kHighest 10% above MA |
$333,100±$14kLowest 41% below MA |
$472,700±$12k 16% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,217±$182 31% below MA |
$2,420±$933Highest 37% above MA |
$1,198±$85Lowest 32% below MA |
$1,771±$151 about the MA average |
| Berlin and Whitman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,691 38% below MA |
$7,116Highest 19% above MA |
$3,234Lowest 46% below MA |
$5,824 about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.4%±4.1 MA: 51.8% |
52.6%±19.7 MA: 51.8% |
46.1%±7.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
61.9%±13.4Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Whitman and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.4% MA: 10% |
5%Lowest MA: 10% |
16%Highest MA: 10% |
7.9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.1% MA: 62.5% |
77.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
45.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
71.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
1992Highest 28 yrs newer than MA |
1954Lowest 10 yrs older than MA |
1957 7 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 6% below MA |
34 min 17% above MA |
28 min 5% below MA |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
| Work from home | 9.1%±2.5 MA: 18.6% |
29.1%±6.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
7.1%±2.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
10.8%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #142 of 282 in MA | #61 of 282 in MA | #271 of 282 in MA | #191 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dudley-Charlton Reg | Berlin-Boylston | — | Whitman-Hanson |
| High school in town | Shepherd Hill Regional High | None in town | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.3 |
— | — | — |
| 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.