Compare towns
Dudley vs Topsfield 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).
Topsfield has the most people working from home (29.4%).
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.
| Measure | Dudley | Topsfield | Webster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,929 |
6,564Lowest |
17,748Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.7%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.2±2.4 about the MA average |
42.2±1.8Highest 6% above MA |
39.9±2.9Lowest about the MA average |
| Topsfield 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% |
24.8%±4.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±2.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Topsfield 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% |
22.4%±3.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.6%±2.5 MA: 17.9% |
| Topsfield 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% |
71.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
25.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.1%±2Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±1.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.8%±1.6 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $84,604±$12k 19% below MA |
$195,718±$16kHighest 88% above MA |
$72,895±$6kLowest 30% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $392,600±$19k 30% below MA |
$853,400±$40kHighest 52% above MA |
$361,500±$12kLowest 36% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,217±$182 31% below MA |
$1,115±$538Lowest 37% 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 | $3,691Lowest 38% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$3,999 33% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.4%±4.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
41.9%±40.8Lowest 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% |
7.5% MA: 10% |
12.7%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.1% MA: 62.5% |
90.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
59.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
1969Highest 5 yrs newer than MA |
1962Lowest 2 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 6% below MA |
28 min 5% below MA |
31 minHighest 5% above MA |
| Work from home | 9.1%±2.5 MA: 18.6% |
29.4%±8.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
8%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #142 of 282 in MA | #172 of 282 in MA | #271 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dudley-Charlton Reg | Topsfield | 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 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.