Compare towns

Dudley vs Chicopee 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 most homeowners (73.1%).
Chicopee has the most affordable homes ($275k 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.

MeasureDudleyChicopeeWebster
People
Population
11,929Lowest
55,295Highest
17,748
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+4.7%
MA: +7.4%
+0.5%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
+6%Highest
MA: +7.4%
Median age
40.2±2.4
about the MA average
41.9±1.4Highest
5% above MA
39.9±2.9Lowest
about the MA average
Chicopee and Dudley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
20.6%±3.3Highest
MA: 19.4%
19.2%±1.7Lowest
MA: 19.4%
19.6%±2.9
MA: 19.4%
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
MA: 17.9%
19.5%±1.4
MA: 17.9%
19.6%±2.5Highest
MA: 17.9%
Webster and Chicopee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
24.1%
MA: 47.3%
22.9%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
25.3%Highest
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
13.1%±2Highest
MA: 7.9%
3.7%±0.6Lowest
MA: 7.9%
5.8%±1.6
MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$84,604±$12kHighest
19% below MA
$62,615±$6kLowest
40% below MA
$72,895±$6k
30% below MA
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
30% below MA
$274,500±$8kLowest
51% below MA
$361,500±$12k
36% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,217±$182
31% below MA
$1,157±$50Lowest
34% below MA
$1,228±$81Highest
30% below MA
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
38% below MA
$3,847
36% below MA
$3,999Highest
33% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
47.4%±4.1
MA: 51.8%
52%±5.6Highest
MA: 51.8%
45.7%±6.7Lowest
MA: 51.8%
Chicopee 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%
17.3%Highest
MA: 10%
12.7%
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
73.1%Highest
MA: 62.5%
55.7%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
59.8%
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1967Highest
3 yrs newer than MA
1958Lowest
6 yrs older than MA
1962
2 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 min
6% below MA
21 minLowest
27% below MA
31 minHighest
5% above MA
Work from home
9.1%±2.5Highest
MA: 18.6%
8%±1.8Lowest
MA: 18.6%
8%±2.5Lowest
MA: 18.6%
Dudley and Chicopee 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 #247 of 282 in MA #271 of 282 in MA
School district Dudley-Charlton Reg Chicopee Webster
High school in town Shepherd Hill Regional High Chicopee Comprehensive High School Bartlett High School
Students per teacherat that high school
14.3Highest
11.2Lowest
11.6
On TownTapestry
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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.