Compare towns
Webster vs Berlin vs Whitman vs Dudley
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).
Berlin has the most people working from home (29.1%).
Whitman has the most kids (21.1% under 18).
Dudley has the shortest commute (27 min average).
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 | Berlin | Whitman | Dudley |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,748Highest |
3,378Lowest |
15,295 |
11,929 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% MA: +7.4% |
+10.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.7% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.9±2.9Lowest about the MA average |
49.7±2.8Highest 24% above MA |
40.4±1.8 about the MA average |
40.2±2.4 about the MA average |
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±2.9 MA: 19.4% |
13.4%±4.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.1%±3.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.6%±3.3 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%±2.5 MA: 17.9% |
30.1%±5.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
15.5%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
16.9%±3 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 25.3% MA: 47.3% |
48.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
31.3% MA: 47.3% |
24.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±1.6 MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±2.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
13.1%±2Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $72,895±$6kLowest 30% below MA |
$121,336±$12kHighest 17% above MA |
$108,933±$14k 5% above MA |
$84,604±$12k 19% below MA |
| Berlin and Whitman 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 |
$616,600±$55kHighest 10% above MA |
$472,700±$12k 16% below MA |
$392,600±$19k 30% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,228±$81 30% below MA |
$2,420±$933Highest 37% above MA |
$1,771±$151 about the MA average |
$1,217±$182Lowest 31% below MA |
| Berlin and Whitman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,999 33% below MA |
$7,116Highest 19% above MA |
$5,824 about the MA average |
$3,691Lowest 38% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.7%±6.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52.6%±19.7 MA: 51.8% |
61.9%±13.4Highest MA: 51.8% |
47.4%±4.1 MA: 51.8% |
| Whitman and Berlin 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% |
5%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.9% MA: 10% |
6.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
77.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
71.4% MA: 62.5% |
73.1% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962 2 yrs older than MA |
1992Highest 28 yrs newer than MA |
1957Lowest 7 yrs older than MA |
1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 5% above MA |
34 min 17% above MA |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
27 minLowest 6% below MA |
| Work from home | 8%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
29.1%±6.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.8%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
9.1%±2.5 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #271 of 282 in MA | #61 of 282 in MA | #191 of 282 in MA | #142 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Webster | Berlin-Boylston | Whitman-Hanson | Dudley-Charlton Reg |
| High school in town | Bartlett High School | None in town | None in town | Shepherd Hill Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6Lowest |
— | — | 14.3Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.