Compare towns
Dudley vs Orange vs Reading vs Webster
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dudley has the shortest commute (27 min average).
Orange has the most affordable homes ($246k median).
Reading has the most people working from home (22.9%).
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 | Orange | Reading | Webster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,929 |
7,573 |
699Lowest |
17,748Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.2±2.4 3% above U.S. |
41.8±2.2 7% above U.S. |
51.1±7.6Highest 31% above U.S. |
39.9±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Reading 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 U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±3.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.5%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Orange and Dudley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 16.9%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.3%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
28.2%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.6%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
15.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
46%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
25.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.1%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $84,604±$12k 5% above U.S. |
$55,824±$10kLowest 31% below U.S. |
$85,000±$19kHighest 5% above U.S. |
$72,895±$6k 10% below U.S. |
| Reading 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 18% above U.S. |
$245,900±$18kLowest 26% below U.S. |
$377,200±$72k 13% above U.S. |
$361,500±$12k 9% above U.S. |
| Dudley and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,217±$182 14% below U.S. |
$775±$233Lowest 45% below U.S. |
$1,100±$331 22% below U.S. |
$1,228±$81Highest 13% below U.S. |
| Webster and Dudley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,691Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$4,136 33% above U.S. |
$5,754Highest 84% above U.S. |
$3,999 28% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.4%±4.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
41%±11.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
63.3%±31.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.7%±6.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Reading 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
22.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
70% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1966 14 yrs older than U.S. |
1969Highest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1962Lowest 18 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
33 min 24% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
31 min 16% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.1%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.6%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.9%±10.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #142 of 282 in MA | #275 of 282 in MA | — | #271 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dudley-Charlton Reg | Orange · Ralph C Mahar | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Webster |
| High school in town | Shepherd Hill Regional High | Ralph C Mahar Regional | None in town | 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 |
U.S. 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.