Compare towns
Dudley vs Unity vs Webster vs Oxford
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 most expensive homes ($393k median).
Unity has the oldest population (median age 58).
Webster has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
Oxford has the most people working from home (16.4%).
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 | Unity | Webster | Oxford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,929 |
1,375Lowest |
17,748Highest |
13,385 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
-9.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.2±2.4 3% above U.S. |
58±4.5Highest 49% above U.S. |
39.9±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
42±2.8 8% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 20.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
12%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Oxford and Dudley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 16.9%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
34.9%±7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.6%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.6%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
21.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
25.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
29.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.1%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.7%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $84,604±$12k 5% above U.S. |
$87,500±$16k 8% above U.S. |
$72,895±$6kLowest 10% below U.S. |
$103,862±$10kHighest 29% above U.S. |
| Oxford and Unity 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. |
$276,100±$29kLowest 17% below U.S. |
$361,500±$12k 9% above U.S. |
$374,900±$18k 13% above U.S. |
| Dudley and Oxford 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. |
$1,625±$804Highest 15% above U.S. |
$1,228±$81 13% below U.S. |
$1,177±$142Lowest 17% below U.S. |
| Unity and Webster 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. |
$5,394Highest 73% above U.S. |
$3,999 28% above U.S. |
$4,622 48% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.4%±4.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.7%±6.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.8%±15.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Oxford and Dudley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1962Lowest 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 32% above U.S. |
31 min 16% above U.S. |
28 min 7% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.1%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.5%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
8%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Oxford and Unity 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 | #245 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dudley-Charlton Reg | Unity School District | Webster | Oxford |
| High school in town | Shepherd Hill Regional High | None in town | Bartlett High School | Oxford High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.3Highest |
— | 11.6 |
10.3Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 4 photos → | 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.