Compare towns
Dudley vs Windham vs Worcester vs Webster
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).
Windham has the highest household income ($95k).
Worcester has the most affordable homes ($271k median).
Webster has the most renters (40.2% rent).
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 | Windham | Worcester | Webster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,929 |
594Lowest |
831 |
17,748Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.2±2.4 3% above U.S. |
44.2±7.4 14% above U.S. |
47±2.7Highest 21% above U.S. |
39.9±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Worcester and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.6%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.5%±7.9 U.S.: 22% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Dudley and Webster 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% |
23.2%±8.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.6%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Windham 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% |
48.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
53%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
25.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.1%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±4.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dudley and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $84,604±$12k 5% above U.S. |
$94,500±$12kHighest 17% above U.S. |
$73,833±$18k 9% below U.S. |
$72,895±$6kLowest 10% below U.S. |
| Windham 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. |
$353,900±$20k 6% above U.S. |
$271,100±$27kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$361,500±$12k 9% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,217±$182 14% below U.S. |
— | $1,023±$136Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,228±$81Highest 13% below U.S. |
| Webster and Dudley 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. |
$5,951Highest 91% above U.S. |
$4,421 42% above U.S. |
$3,999 28% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.4%±4.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.2%±94 U.S.: 51.1% |
25.5%±37Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.7%±6.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dudley and Webster 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% |
9.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1962Lowest 18 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 4% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
29 min 9% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 16% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.1%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
20.5%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.6%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Worcester and Windham 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 |
| School district | Dudley-Charlton Reg | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Webster |
| High school in town | Shepherd Hill Regional High | — | None in town | Bartlett High School |
| 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.