Compare towns
Dudley vs Webster vs Sutton vs Whitman
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).
Webster has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
Sutton has the most people working from home (22.7%).
Whitman has the most kids (21.1% under 18).
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 | Webster | Sutton | Whitman |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,929 |
17,748Highest |
9,452Lowest |
15,295 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.7% MA: +7.4% |
+6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.2±2.4 about the MA average |
39.9±2.9Lowest about the MA average |
44.3±2.5Highest 11% above MA |
40.4±1.8 about the MA average |
| Sutton 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 MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±2.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±3.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.1%±3.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
| 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 MA: 17.9% |
19.6%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.2 MA: 17.9% |
15.5%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Webster and Sutton 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% |
25.3% MA: 47.3% |
52.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
31.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.1%±2Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.8%±1.6 MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $84,604±$12k 19% below MA |
$72,895±$6kLowest 30% below MA |
$147,125±$25kHighest 42% above MA |
$108,933±$14k 5% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $392,600±$19k 30% below MA |
$361,500±$12kLowest 36% below MA |
$523,100±$47kHighest 7% below MA |
$472,700±$12k 16% below MA |
| Sutton and Whitman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,217±$182 31% below MA |
$1,228±$81 30% below MA |
$1,190±$401Lowest 32% below MA |
$1,771±$151Highest about the MA average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,691Lowest 38% below MA |
$3,999 33% below MA |
$6,763Highest 13% above MA |
$5,824 about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.4%±4.1 MA: 51.8% |
45.7%±6.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4 MA: 51.8% |
61.9%±13.4Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Whitman and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.4% MA: 10% |
12.7%Highest MA: 10% |
5.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.1% MA: 62.5% |
59.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
71.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
1962 2 yrs older than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1957Lowest 7 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 6% below MA |
31 min 5% above MA |
30 min about the MA average |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
| Work from home | 9.1%±2.5 MA: 18.6% |
8%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.8%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #142 of 282 in MA | #271 of 282 in MA | #105 of 282 in MA | #191 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dudley-Charlton Reg | Webster | Sutton | Whitman-Hanson |
| High school in town | Shepherd Hill Regional High | Bartlett High School | Sutton High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.3Highest |
11.6Lowest |
12.6 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.