Compare towns
Dudley vs Warner vs Webster vs Whitman
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).
Warner has the most people working from home (16.6%).
Webster has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
Whitman has the most expensive homes ($473k median).
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 | Warner | Webster | Whitman |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,929 |
2,959Lowest |
17,748Highest |
15,295 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.2±2.4 3% above U.S. |
43.7±4Highest 12% above U.S. |
39.9±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
40.4±1.8 4% above U.S. |
| Warner and Whitman 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% |
17.3%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Whitman 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% |
20.4%±3.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.6%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Warner 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
42.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
25.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
31.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.1%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $84,604±$12k 5% above U.S. |
$94,022±$18k 16% above U.S. |
$72,895±$6kLowest 10% below U.S. |
$108,933±$14kHighest 35% above U.S. |
| Whitman and Warner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $392,600±$19k 18% above U.S. |
$353,100±$22kLowest 6% above U.S. |
$361,500±$12k 9% above U.S. |
$472,700±$12kHighest 42% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,217±$182Lowest 14% below U.S. |
$1,219±$123 14% below U.S. |
$1,228±$81 13% below U.S. |
$1,771±$151Highest 25% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,691Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$7,650Highest 145% above U.S. |
$3,999 28% above U.S. |
$5,824 87% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.4%±4.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
48.7%±21.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
45.7%±6.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
61.9%±13.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Whitman and Warner 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% |
8.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
74.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1962 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1957Lowest 23 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
31 min 16% above U.S. |
36 minHighest 37% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.1%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.6%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±2.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Warner and Whitman 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 | #191 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dudley-Charlton Reg | Kearsarge Regional School District | Webster | Whitman-Hanson |
| High school in town | Shepherd Hill Regional High | None in town | Bartlett High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.3Highest |
— | 11.6Lowest |
— |
| 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.