Compare towns
Webster vs Lancaster vs Dudley
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
Bordering WebsterWebster
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Webster has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.9%).
Lancaster has the most affordable homes ($216k 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 | Lancaster | Dudley |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 12,228Highest |
3,216Lowest |
11,929 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-8.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.2±2.1Lowest 4% below U.S. |
45.5±6.9Highest 17% above U.S. |
40.2±2.4 3% above U.S. |
| Lancaster and Dudley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.8%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±6.1 U.S.: 22% |
20.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Webster and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15.7%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
28.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.9%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 18.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
24.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
13.1%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $63,837±$8kLowest 21% below U.S. |
$68,911±$23k 15% below U.S. |
$84,604±$12kHighest 5% above U.S. |
| Dudley and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $333,100±$14k about the U.S. average |
$215,700±$24kLowest 35% below U.S. |
$392,600±$19kHighest 18% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,198±$85 15% below U.S. |
$1,019±$263Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,217±$182Highest 14% below U.S. |
| Dudley and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,234Lowest 4% above U.S. |
$4,226Highest 35% above U.S. |
$3,691 18% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.1%±7.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
36.1%±17Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.4%±4.1Highest 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 | 16% U.S.: 12.5% |
16.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 45.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1954 26 yrs older than U.S. |
1942Lowest 38 yrs older than U.S. |
1967Highest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 4% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 7.1%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.5%±6.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.1%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lancaster 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 | #107 of 120 in NH | #142 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | White Mountains Regional School District | Dudley-Charlton Reg |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Shepherd Hill Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 14.3 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.