Compare towns
Webster vs Dudley vs Webster
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).
Dudley has the most homeowners (73.1%).
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 | Dudley | Webster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 12,228 |
11,929Lowest |
17,748Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.7%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.2±2.1Lowest 7% below MA |
40.2±2.4Highest about the MA average |
39.9±2.9 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%±3.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.6%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±2.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Webster and Dudley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15.7%±2.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
16.9%±3 MA: 17.9% |
19.6%±2.5Highest 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% |
24.1% MA: 47.3% |
25.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
13.1%±2Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.8%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $63,837±$8kLowest 39% below MA |
$84,604±$12kHighest 19% below MA |
$72,895±$6k 30% 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±$14kLowest 41% below MA |
$392,600±$19kHighest 30% below MA |
$361,500±$12k 36% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,198±$85Lowest 32% below MA |
$1,217±$182 31% below MA |
$1,228±$81Highest 30% 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 | $3,234Lowest 46% below MA |
$3,691 38% below MA |
$3,999Highest 33% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.1%±7.4 MA: 51.8% |
47.4%±4.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
45.7%±6.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Dudley and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 16%Highest MA: 10% |
6.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
12.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 45.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
73.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
59.8% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1954Lowest 10 yrs older than MA |
1967Highest 3 yrs newer than MA |
1962 2 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% below MA |
27 minLowest 6% below MA |
31 minHighest 5% above MA |
| Work from home | 7.1%±2.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
9.1%±2.5Highest MA: 18.6% |
8%±2.5 MA: 18.6% |
| Dudley and Webster 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 | #142 of 282 in MA | #271 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Dudley-Charlton Reg | Webster |
| High school in town | — | Shepherd Hill Regional High | Bartlett High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.3Highest |
11.6Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.