Compare towns
Webster vs New Salem vs Dudley
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
Bordering WebsterWebster
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Webster has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.9%).
New Salem has the most people working from home (19.4%).
Dudley has the most expensive homes ($393k median).
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 | New Salem | Dudley |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 12,228Highest |
1,054Lowest |
11,929 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-0.7%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.7% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.2±2.1Lowest 7% below MA |
55.6±2.4Highest 39% above MA |
40.2±2.4 about the MA average |
| Kids under 18 | 21.8%±3.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
14.5%±4.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.6%±3.3 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% |
23.7%±6.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.9%±3 MA: 17.9% |
| New Salem 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% |
35.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
24.1% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
3.1%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
13.1%±2Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $63,837±$8kLowest 39% below MA |
$79,688±$19k 23% below MA |
$84,604±$12kHighest 19% below MA |
| Dudley and New Salem 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 |
$359,000±$40k 36% below MA |
$392,600±$19kHighest 30% below MA |
| Dudley and New Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,198±$85 32% below MA |
$1,194±$88Lowest 32% below MA |
$1,217±$182Highest 31% below MA |
| 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 46% below MA |
$4,509Highest 25% below MA |
$3,691 38% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.1%±7.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
86.7%±25.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
47.4%±4.1 MA: 51.8% |
| Below poverty line | 16%Highest MA: 10% |
9.7% MA: 10% |
6.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 45.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.1% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1954Lowest 10 yrs older than MA |
1973Highest 9 yrs newer than MA |
1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 5% below MA |
23 minLowest 20% below MA |
27 min 6% below MA |
| Work from home | 7.1%±2.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
19.4%±8Highest MA: 18.6% |
9.1%±2.5 MA: 18.6% |
| New Salem 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 | — | #142 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | — | Dudley-Charlton Reg |
| High school 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 |
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.