Compare towns
Dudley vs Northfield 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).
Northfield has the most people working from home (16.5%).
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 | Northfield | Webster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,929 |
2,872Lowest |
12,228Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.7% MA: +7.4% |
-5.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.2±2.4 about the MA average |
48.9±4.2Highest 22% above MA |
37.2±2.1Lowest 7% below MA |
| Kids under 18 | 20.6%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
14.8%±4.1Lowest 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% |
25.5%±5.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
15.7%±2.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24.1% MA: 47.3% |
42.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
18.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.1%±2Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $84,604±$12k 19% below MA |
$103,375±$10kHighest about the MA average |
$63,837±$8kLowest 39% below MA |
| Northfield 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±$19kHighest 30% below MA |
$375,800±$31k 33% below MA |
$333,100±$14kLowest 41% below MA |
| Dudley and Northfield 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 |
$1,142±$200Lowest 35% 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 |
$4,594Highest 23% below MA |
$3,234Lowest 46% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.4%±4.1 MA: 51.8% |
49.2%±25.9Highest MA: 51.8% |
46.1%±7.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Northfield 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 MA: 10% |
6.8% MA: 10% |
16%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.1% MA: 62.5% |
85.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
45.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Highest 3 yrs newer than MA |
1962 2 yrs older than MA |
1954Lowest 10 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 6% below MA |
31 minHighest 8% above MA |
28 min 5% below MA |
| Work from home | 9.1%±2.5 MA: 18.6% |
16.5%±10.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
7.1%±2.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Northfield 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 | #231 of 282 in MA | #271 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dudley-Charlton Reg | Pioneer Valley | — |
| High school in town | Shepherd Hill Regional High | Pioneer Valley Regional | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.3Highest |
10.7Lowest |
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| 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.