Compare towns

Dudley vs Monroe 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 people working from home (9.1%).
Monroe has the most affordable homes ($165k median).
Webster has the most renters (40.2% rent).

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.

MeasureDudleyMonroeWebster
People
Population
11,929
122Lowest
17,748Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+4.7%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
—
+6%Highest
MA: +7.4%
Median age
40.2±2.4
about the MA average
60.2±9.9Highest
51% above MA
39.9±2.9Lowest
about the MA average
Kids under 18
20.6%±3.3Highest
MA: 19.4%
16.4%±28Lowest
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%
31.1%±27.3Highest
MA: 17.9%
19.6%±2.5
MA: 17.9%
Monroe 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%
19.8%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
25.3%Highest
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
13.1%±2Highest
MA: 7.9%
9%±18.5
MA: 7.9%
5.8%±1.6Lowest
MA: 7.9%
Dudley and Monroe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$84,604±$12kHighest
19% below MA
—
$72,895±$6kLowest
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
$165,000±$141kLowest
71% below MA
$361,500±$12k
36% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,217±$182Lowest
31% 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
$3,691
38% below MA
$2,053Lowest
66% below MA
$3,999Highest
33% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
47.4%±4.1Highest
MA: 51.8%
0%±100Lowest
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%Lowest
MA: 10%
38.5%Highest
MA: 10%
12.7%
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
73.1%
MA: 62.5%
75.9%Highest
MA: 62.5%
59.8%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1967Highest
3 yrs newer than MA
1938Lowest
26 yrs older than MA
1962
2 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 minLowest
6% below MA
56 minHighest
93% above MA
31 min
5% above MA
Work from home
9.1%±2.5Highest
MA: 18.6%
0%±41.2Lowest
MA: 18.6%
8%±2.5
MA: 18.6%
Dudley and Webster 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
School district Dudley-Charlton Reg — Webster
High school in town Shepherd Hill Regional High — Bartlett High School
Students per teacherat that high school
14.3Highest
—
11.6Lowest
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.