Compare towns
Webster vs Athol vs Webster vs Dudley
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 (54.5% rent).
Athol has the most affordable homes ($249k median).
Dudley has the highest household income ($85k).
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 | Webster | Athol | Webster | Dudley |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 12,228 |
8,801Lowest |
17,748Highest |
11,929 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.7%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6% MA: +7.4% |
+4.7% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.2±2.1 7% below MA |
36.8±3.3Lowest 8% below MA |
39.9±2.9 about the MA average |
40.2±2.4Highest about the MA average |
| Dudley and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.8%±3.6 MA: 19.4% |
25.2%±4.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±2.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.6%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
| Athol and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 15.7%±2.5 MA: 17.9% |
15%±2.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.6%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.9%±3 MA: 17.9% |
| Webster and Dudley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 18.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
21.9% MA: 47.3% |
25.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
24.1% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.8%±1.6 MA: 7.9% |
13.1%±2Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $63,837±$8kLowest 39% below MA |
$67,394±$8k 35% below MA |
$72,895±$6k 30% below MA |
$84,604±$12kHighest 19% below MA |
| Dudley and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $333,100±$14k 41% below MA |
$248,700±$15kLowest 56% below MA |
$361,500±$12k 36% below MA |
$392,600±$19kHighest 30% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,198±$85 32% below MA |
$1,120±$173Lowest 36% below MA |
$1,228±$81Highest 30% below MA |
$1,217±$182 31% below MA |
| Webster and Dudley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,234 46% below MA |
$3,170Lowest 47% below MA |
$3,999Highest 33% below MA |
$3,691 38% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.1%±7.4 MA: 51.8% |
59.2%±17.9Highest MA: 51.8% |
45.7%±6.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
47.4%±4.1 MA: 51.8% |
| Athol and Dudley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 16% MA: 10% |
21%Highest MA: 10% |
12.7% MA: 10% |
6.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 45.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
63.7% MA: 62.5% |
59.8% MA: 62.5% |
73.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1954 10 yrs older than MA |
1940Lowest 24 yrs older than MA |
1962 2 yrs older than MA |
1967Highest 3 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% below MA |
26 minLowest 10% below MA |
31 minHighest 5% above MA |
27 min 6% below MA |
| Work from home | 7.1%±2.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
9.7%±3.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
8%±2.5 MA: 18.6% |
9.1%±2.5 MA: 18.6% |
| Athol 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 | #271 of 282 in MA | #256 of 282 in MA | #271 of 282 in MA | #142 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | — | Webster | Dudley-Charlton Reg |
| High school in town | — | — | Bartlett High School | Shepherd Hill Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.6Lowest |
14.3Highest |
| 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.