Compare towns
Dudley vs Unity vs Webster vs Winchendon
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).
Unity has the oldest population (median age 58).
Webster has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
Winchendon has the most people working from home (11.2%).
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 | Winchendon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,929 |
1,375Lowest |
17,748Highest |
10,440 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
-9.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.2±2.4 3% above U.S. |
58±4.5Highest 49% above U.S. |
39.9±2.9 about the U.S. average |
39.6±1.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Kids under 18 | 20.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
12%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Winchendon 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% |
34.9%±7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.6%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.9%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
21.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
25.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
21.4%Lowest 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% |
4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $84,604±$12k 5% above U.S. |
$87,500±$16kHighest 8% above U.S. |
$72,895±$6kLowest 10% below U.S. |
$75,690±$14k 6% below U.S. |
| Unity 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. |
$276,100±$29kLowest 17% below U.S. |
$361,500±$12k 9% above U.S. |
$323,800±$19k about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,217±$182Lowest 14% below U.S. |
$1,625±$804Highest 15% above U.S. |
$1,228±$81 13% below U.S. |
$1,255±$163 11% below U.S. |
| Unity and Winchendon 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. |
$3,780 21% 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% |
61.7%±17.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Winchendon 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
18.5%Highest 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% |
76.6% 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. |
1981 1 yr newer 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. |
32 min 23% 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% |
11.2%±3.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Winchendon 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 | #269 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dudley-Charlton Reg | Unity School District | Webster | Winchendon |
| High school in town | Shepherd Hill Regional High | None in town | Bartlett High School | Murdock High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.3Highest |
— | 11.6 |
11.3Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 4 photos → | None yet | 6 photos → |
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.