Compare towns
Dudley vs Chester vs Webster
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dudley has the highest household income ($85k).
Chester has the most people working from home (14%).
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 | Chester | Webster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,929 |
2,992Lowest |
17,748Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.2±2.4 3% above U.S. |
49.7±4.7Highest 28% above U.S. |
39.9±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Kids under 18 | 20.6%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Dudley and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.9%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
29.8%±7.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.6%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Chester and Webster 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
33.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
25.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.1%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $84,604±$12kHighest 5% above U.S. |
$62,125±$8kLowest 23% below U.S. |
$72,895±$6k 10% below U.S. |
| Dudley and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $392,600±$19kHighest 18% above U.S. |
$232,900±$44kLowest 30% below U.S. |
$361,500±$12k 9% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,217±$182 14% below U.S. |
$960±$44Lowest 32% below U.S. |
$1,228±$81Highest 13% below U.S. |
| Webster and Dudley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,691Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$4,262Highest 37% above U.S. |
$3,999 28% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.4%±4.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
11.5%±12.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.7%±6.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dudley and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1972Highest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1962Lowest 18 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 16% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.1%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Chester and Dudley 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 | #49 of 70 in VT | #271 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dudley-Charlton Reg | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | Webster |
| High school in town | Shepherd Hill Regional High | Green Mountain Union High School | Bartlett High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.3Highest |
8.7Lowest |
11.6 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.