Compare towns
Dudley vs New Salem 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 expensive homes ($393k median).
New Salem has the most people working from home (19.4%).
Webster has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.9%).
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 | New Salem | Webster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,929 |
1,054Lowest |
12,228Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.7% MA: +7.4% |
-0.7%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.2±2.4 about the MA average |
55.6±2.4Highest 39% above MA |
37.2±2.1Lowest 7% below MA |
| Kids under 18 | 20.6%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
14.5%±4.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.8%±3.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Webster 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% |
23.7%±6.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
15.7%±2.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| New Salem 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% MA: 47.3% |
35.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
18.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.1%±2Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.1%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $84,604±$12kHighest 19% below MA |
$79,688±$19k 23% below MA |
$63,837±$8kLowest 39% below MA |
| Dudley and New Salem 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 |
$359,000±$40k 36% below MA |
$333,100±$14kLowest 41% below MA |
| Dudley and New Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,217±$182Highest 31% below MA |
$1,194±$88Lowest 32% below MA |
$1,198±$85 32% below MA |
| Dudley and Webster 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 |
$4,509Highest 25% below MA |
$3,234Lowest 46% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.4%±4.1 MA: 51.8% |
86.7%±25.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
46.1%±7.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Below poverty line | 6.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
9.7% MA: 10% |
16%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.1% MA: 62.5% |
89%Highest MA: 62.5% |
45.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
1973Highest 9 yrs newer than MA |
1954Lowest 10 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 6% below MA |
23 minLowest 20% below MA |
28 minHighest 5% below MA |
| Work from home | 9.1%±2.5 MA: 18.6% |
19.4%±8Highest MA: 18.6% |
7.1%±2.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| New Salem 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 |
| School district | Dudley-Charlton Reg | — | — |
| High school in town | Shepherd Hill Regional High | — | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.3 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.