Compare towns
Webster vs Ayer vs Dudley vs Whitman
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 (40.2% rent).
Ayer has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).
Dudley has the shortest commute (27 min average).
Whitman has the highest household income ($109k).
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 | Ayer | Dudley | Whitman |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,748Highest |
8,645Lowest |
11,929 |
15,295 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% MA: +7.4% |
+14.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.7% MA: +7.4% |
+4.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.9±2.9 about the MA average |
39.2±2.8Lowest about the MA average |
40.2±2.4 about the MA average |
40.4±1.8Highest about the MA average |
| Whitman and Dudley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±2.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.3%±3.9 MA: 19.4% |
20.6%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
21.1%±3.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Whitman and Dudley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.6%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
14.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
16.9%±3 MA: 17.9% |
15.5%±2.1 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+ | 25.3% MA: 47.3% |
42.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
24.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
31.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±1.6 MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
13.1%±2Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $72,895±$6kLowest 30% below MA |
$101,875±$15k about the MA average |
$84,604±$12k 19% below MA |
$108,933±$14kHighest 5% above MA |
| Whitman and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $361,500±$12kLowest 36% below MA |
$463,800±$29k 17% below MA |
$392,600±$19k 30% below MA |
$472,700±$12kHighest 16% below MA |
| Whitman and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,228±$81 30% below MA |
$1,415±$180 20% below MA |
$1,217±$182Lowest 31% below MA |
$1,771±$151Highest about the MA average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,999 33% below MA |
$5,057 16% below MA |
$3,691Lowest 38% below MA |
$5,824Highest about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.7%±6.7 MA: 51.8% |
45.1%±14.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
47.4%±4.1 MA: 51.8% |
61.9%±13.4Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Whitman and Dudley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 12.7%Highest MA: 10% |
10.7% MA: 10% |
6.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
69.2% MA: 62.5% |
73.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
71.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962 2 yrs older than MA |
1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
1957Lowest 7 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 5% above MA |
33 min 13% above MA |
27 minLowest 6% below MA |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
| Work from home | 8%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±5.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
9.1%±2.5 MA: 18.6% |
10.8%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #271 of 282 in MA | #113 of 282 in MA | #142 of 282 in MA | #191 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Webster | Ayer Shirley School District | Dudley-Charlton Reg | Whitman-Hanson |
| High school in town | Bartlett High School | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | Shepherd Hill Regional High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6 |
11.5Lowest |
14.3Highest |
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| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 12 photos → | 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.