Compare towns
Dudley vs Royalston 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).
Royalston has the most homeowners (96%).
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 | Royalston | Webster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,929 |
1,460Lowest |
17,748Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.7% MA: +7.4% |
-0.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.2±2.4 about the MA average |
47.8±14.6Highest 20% above MA |
39.9±2.9Lowest about the MA average |
| Royalston and Dudley 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% |
21.2%±10Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±2.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Royalston and Dudley 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% |
20.7%±5.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.6%±2.5 MA: 17.9% |
| Royalston 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%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
28.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
25.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.1%±2Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±3.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.8%±1.6 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $84,604±$12k 19% below MA |
$102,109±$8kHighest about the MA average |
$72,895±$6kLowest 30% below MA |
| Royalston 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 |
$346,300±$18kLowest 38% below MA |
$361,500±$12k 36% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,217±$182Lowest 31% below MA |
$1,650±$412Highest 6% below MA |
$1,228±$81 30% below MA |
| Royalston 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 |
$3,196Lowest 47% below MA |
$3,999Highest 33% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.4%±4.1 MA: 51.8% |
85.7%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
45.7%±6.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Royalston 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% |
11.8% MA: 10% |
12.7%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.1% MA: 62.5% |
96%Highest 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 |
1962Lowest 2 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 6% below MA |
38 minHighest 32% above MA |
31 min 5% above MA |
| Work from home | 9.1%±2.5 MA: 18.6% |
10.7%±4.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
8%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Royalston 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 | Athol-Royalston | Webster |
| High school in town | Shepherd Hill Regional High | None in town | Bartlett High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.3Highest |
— | 11.6Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.