Compare towns
Webster vs Bethlehem vs Webster 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
Bethlehem has the most people working from home (13.9%).
Webster has the most renters (54.5% rent).
Dudley has the most homeowners (73.1%).
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 | Bethlehem | Webster | Dudley |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,748Highest |
3,423Lowest |
12,228 |
11,929 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +6.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.9±2.9 about the U.S. average |
51.5±8.5Highest 32% above U.S. |
37.2±2.1Lowest 4% below U.S. |
40.2±2.4 3% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±3.6Highest 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+ | 19.6%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.5%±5.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.7%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.9%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bethlehem and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 25.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
39.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
18.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
24.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
13.1%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $72,895±$6k 10% below U.S. |
$108,929±$16kHighest 35% above U.S. |
$63,837±$8kLowest 21% below U.S. |
$84,604±$12k 5% above U.S. |
| Bethlehem and Dudley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $361,500±$12k 9% above U.S. |
$410,900±$36kHighest 24% above U.S. |
$333,100±$14kLowest about the U.S. average |
$392,600±$19k 18% above U.S. |
| Bethlehem and Dudley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,228±$81Highest 13% below U.S. |
$1,127±$124Lowest 20% below U.S. |
$1,198±$85 15% below U.S. |
$1,217±$182 14% below U.S. |
| Webster and Dudley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,999 28% above U.S. |
$5,932Highest 90% above U.S. |
$3,234Lowest 4% above U.S. |
$3,691 18% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.7%±6.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
69.7%±38.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.1%±7.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
47.4%±4.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Bethlehem and Dudley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 12.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
16%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
70.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
45.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1954Lowest 26 yrs older than U.S. |
1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 16% above U.S. |
29 min 10% above U.S. |
28 min 4% above U.S. |
27 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 8%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.9%±5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.1%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.1%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Bethlehem 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 | #82 of 149 in CT | #271 of 282 in MA | #142 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Webster | Regional School District 14 | — | Dudley-Charlton Reg |
| High school in town | Bartlett High School | 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 |
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.