Compare towns
Dudley vs Everett vs Worcester 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%).
Everett has the most expensive homes ($610k median).
Worcester has the shortest commute (24 min average).
Webster has the most affordable homes ($362k 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 | Everett | Worcester | Webster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,929Lowest |
50,045 |
207,055Highest |
17,748 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.7%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+17.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+14.1% MA: +7.4% |
+6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.2±2.4Highest about the MA average |
35.2±1.5 12% below MA |
33.9±0.5Lowest 15% below MA |
39.9±2.9 about the MA average |
| Dudley and Webster 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% |
21.8%±2.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±0.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±2.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Everett 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% |
11.3%±1.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
13.3%±0.6 MA: 17.9% |
19.6%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Webster and Dudley 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% |
24.9% MA: 47.3% |
35.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
25.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.1%±2 MA: 7.9% |
6.3%±0.9 MA: 7.9% |
14.1%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.8%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Worcester and Dudley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $84,604±$12k 19% below MA |
$85,218±$7kHighest 18% below MA |
$70,102±$2kLowest 33% below MA |
$72,895±$6k 30% below MA |
| Everett and Dudley 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 |
$610,000±$23kHighest 9% above MA |
$374,400±$7k 33% below MA |
$361,500±$12kLowest 36% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,217±$182Lowest 31% below MA |
$2,076±$69Highest 18% above MA |
$1,487±$38 16% below MA |
$1,228±$81 30% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,691Lowest 38% below MA |
$4,880Highest 19% below MA |
$4,733 21% below MA |
$3,999 33% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.4%±4.1 MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±5.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
54.2%±2.9 MA: 51.8% |
45.7%±6.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Everett and Worcester 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% |
14.7% MA: 10% |
19.6%Highest MA: 10% |
12.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
37.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
42.8% MA: 62.5% |
59.8% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Highest 3 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1951 13 yrs older than MA |
1962 2 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 6% below MA |
35 minHighest 20% above MA |
24 minLowest 17% below MA |
31 min 5% above MA |
| Work from home | 9.1%±2.5 MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2 MA: 18.6% |
11.5%±1Highest MA: 18.6% |
8%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Worcester and Everett 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 | #264 of 282 in MA | #266 of 282 in MA | #271 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dudley-Charlton Reg | Everett | Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester | Webster |
| High school in town | Shepherd Hill Regional High | Everett High | South High Community | Bartlett High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.3 |
12.1 |
14.6Highest |
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.