Compare towns
Dudley vs Colebrook vs Webster vs Whitman
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 shortest commute (27 min average).
Colebrook has the oldest population (median age 52.1).
Webster has the most renters (40.2% rent).
Whitman has the most expensive homes ($473k median).
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 | Colebrook | Webster | Whitman |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,929 |
1,494Lowest |
17,748Highest |
15,295 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.2±2.4 3% above U.S. |
52.1±5Highest 34% above U.S. |
39.9±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
40.4±1.8 4% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 20.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
17.9%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
26%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.6%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Colebrook 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% |
36.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
25.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
31.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.1%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $84,604±$12k 5% above U.S. |
$111,250±$17kHighest 38% above U.S. |
$72,895±$6kLowest 10% below U.S. |
$108,933±$14k 35% above U.S. |
| Colebrook 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 18% above U.S. |
$342,800±$19kLowest 3% above U.S. |
$361,500±$12k 9% above U.S. |
$472,700±$12kHighest 42% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,217±$182Lowest 14% below U.S. |
$1,333±$626 6% below U.S. |
$1,228±$81 13% below U.S. |
$1,771±$151Highest 25% above U.S. |
| Whitman and Colebrook 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. |
$6,211Highest 99% above U.S. |
$3,999 28% above U.S. |
$5,824 87% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.4%±4.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
42.1%±55Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.7%±6.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
61.9%±13.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
91.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Highest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1960 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1962 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1957Lowest 23 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
34 min 29% above U.S. |
31 min 16% above U.S. |
36 minHighest 37% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.1%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
7%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
8%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Whitman 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 | — | #271 of 282 in MA | #191 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dudley-Charlton Reg | Colebrook School District | Webster | Whitman-Hanson |
| High school in town | Shepherd Hill Regional High | None in town | Bartlett High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.3Highest |
— | 11.6Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.