Compare towns

Webster vs Plainfield vs Dudley

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Webster has the most renters (54.5% rent).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
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.

MeasureWebsterPlainfieldDudley
People
Population
12,228
15,141Highest
11,929Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+6.9%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
—
+4.7%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
37.2±2.1
4% below U.S.
37±4.5Lowest
5% below U.S.
40.2±2.4Highest
3% above U.S.
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
U.S.: 22%
19.4%±2.6Lowest
U.S.: 22%
20.6%±3.3
U.S.: 22%
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
U.S.: 17.2%
16.6%±2.4
U.S.: 17.2%
16.9%±3Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Dudley and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
18.8%
U.S.: 35.7%
15%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
24.1%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
6%±1.8
U.S.: 6.4%
5.6%±1.8Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
13.1%±2Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$63,837±$8kLowest
21% below U.S.
$76,993±$8k
5% below U.S.
$84,604±$12kHighest
5% above U.S.
Dudley and Plainfield 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
$272,100±$16kLowest
18% below U.S.
$392,600±$19kHighest
18% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,198±$85Lowest
15% below U.S.
$1,204±$70
15% below U.S.
$1,217±$182Highest
14% below U.S.
Dudley and Plainfield 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.
$4,209Highest
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%
39.8%±9.5Lowest
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%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
8.7%
U.S.: 12.5%
6.4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
45.5%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
73.6%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
73.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1954Lowest
26 yrs older than U.S.
1971Highest
9 yrs older than U.S.
1967
13 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 minHighest
4% above U.S.
27 minLowest
about the U.S. average
27 min
4% above U.S.
Work from home
7.1%±2.9Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
10%±4Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
9.1%±2.5
U.S.: 15.1%
Plainfield 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 #131 of 149 in CT #142 of 282 in MA
School district — Plainfield School District Dudley-Charlton Reg
High school in town — Plainfield High School Shepherd Hill Regional High
Students per teacherat that high school —
10.3Lowest
14.3Highest
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.