Compare towns
Dudley vs Halifax vs Orange 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 shortest commute (27 min average).
Halifax has the most people working from home (13.9%).
Orange has the most affordable homes ($246k 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.
| Measure | Dudley | Halifax | Orange | Webster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,929 |
7,748 |
7,573Lowest |
17,748Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.7% MA: +7.4% |
+3.1% MA: +7.4% |
-3.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.2±2.4 about the MA average |
41.9±4.7Highest 5% above MA |
41.8±2.2 4% above MA |
39.9±2.9Lowest about the MA average |
| Halifax and Orange 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% |
22.2%±5.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
22.2%±3.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±2.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 16.9%±3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.6 MA: 17.9% |
20.3%±3.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.6%±2.5 MA: 17.9% |
| Orange 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% MA: 47.3% |
36.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
15.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
25.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.1%±2Highest MA: 7.9% |
5%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
2%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.8%±1.6 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $84,604±$12k 19% below MA |
$118,556±$11kHighest 14% above MA |
$55,824±$10kLowest 46% below MA |
$72,895±$6k 30% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $392,600±$19k 30% below MA |
$481,500±$51kHighest 14% below MA |
$245,900±$18kLowest 56% below MA |
$361,500±$12k 36% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,217±$182 31% below MA |
$1,804±$375Highest about the MA average |
$775±$233Lowest 56% below MA |
$1,228±$81 30% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,691Lowest 38% below MA |
$6,840Highest 14% above MA |
$4,136 31% below MA |
$3,999 33% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.4%±4.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
45.6%±37.4 MA: 51.8% |
41%±11.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
45.7%±6.7 MA: 51.8% |
| 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% MA: 10% |
2.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
22.4%Highest MA: 10% |
12.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.1% MA: 62.5% |
95.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
70% MA: 62.5% |
59.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA |
1966 2 yrs newer than MA |
1962Lowest 2 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 6% below MA |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
33 min 13% above MA |
31 min 5% above MA |
| Work from home | 9.1%±2.5 MA: 18.6% |
13.9%±5.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
6.6%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
8%±2.5 MA: 18.6% |
| Halifax 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 | #120 of 282 in MA | #275 of 282 in MA | #271 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dudley-Charlton Reg | Halifax | Orange · Ralph C Mahar | Webster |
| High school in town | Shepherd Hill Regional High | None in town | Ralph C Mahar Regional | Bartlett High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.3Highest |
— | 9.0Lowest |
11.6 |
| 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.