Compare towns
Dudley vs Webster vs Westminster
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Webster has the most renters (40.2% rent).
Westminster has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.9%).
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 | Westminster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,929 |
17,748Highest |
8,374Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.7%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6% MA: +7.4% |
+12.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.2±2.4 about the MA average |
39.9±2.9Lowest about the MA average |
48.3±4.6Highest 21% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 20.6%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±2.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.3%±4.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Westminster 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% |
19.6%±2.5 MA: 17.9% |
26%±5.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Westminster 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% |
25.3% MA: 47.3% |
45.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.1%±2Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.8%±1.6 MA: 7.9% |
1.8%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $84,604±$12k 19% below MA |
$72,895±$6kLowest 30% below MA |
$106,331±$22kHighest about the MA average |
| Westminster 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±$19k 30% below MA |
$361,500±$12kLowest 36% below MA |
$422,000±$36kHighest 25% below MA |
| Westminster and Dudley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,217±$182Lowest 31% below MA |
$1,228±$81 30% below MA |
$1,843±$268Highest 5% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,691Lowest 38% below MA |
$3,999 33% below MA |
$4,973Highest 17% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.4%±4.1 MA: 51.8% |
45.7%±6.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
60%±27.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Westminster and Dudley 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% |
2.3%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.1% MA: 62.5% |
59.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
87.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
1962Lowest 2 yrs older than MA |
1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 6% below MA |
31 minHighest 5% above MA |
27 minLowest 7% below MA |
| Work from home | 9.1%±2.5 MA: 18.6% |
8%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
12.5%±4.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Westminster and Dudley 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 | #112 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dudley-Charlton Reg | Webster | Ashburnham-Westminster |
| High school in town | Shepherd Hill Regional High | Bartlett High School | Oakmont Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.3Highest |
11.6Lowest |
13.6 |
| 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.