Compare towns
Webster vs Brimfield vs Dudley vs Douglas
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).
Brimfield has the most homeowners (87.5%).
Dudley has the shortest commute (27 min average).
Douglas has the most people working from home (20.9%).
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 | Brimfield | Dudley | Douglas |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,748Highest |
3,705Lowest |
11,929 |
9,207 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.7% MA: +7.4% |
+6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.9±2.9Lowest about the MA average |
43.7±5.3 9% above MA |
40.2±2.4 about the MA average |
44±2.6Highest 10% above MA |
| Douglas and Brimfield 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% |
21.2%±6Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.6%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
21.2%±3.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 19.6%±2.5 MA: 17.9% |
22.3%±4.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.9%±3 MA: 17.9% |
15.4%±3.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Brimfield 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% MA: 47.3% |
44.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
24.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
41.7% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±1.6 MA: 7.9% |
3.5%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
13.1%±2Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±2.3 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $72,895±$6kLowest 30% below MA |
$111,250±$22k 7% above MA |
$84,604±$12k 19% below MA |
$152,267±$10kHighest 46% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $361,500±$12kLowest 36% below MA |
$389,100±$27k 31% below MA |
$392,600±$19k 30% below MA |
$470,600±$29kHighest 16% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,228±$81 30% below MA |
$886±$365Lowest 50% below MA |
$1,217±$182 31% below MA |
$1,503±$697Highest 15% below MA |
| Douglas and Webster 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 |
$5,128 14% below MA |
$3,691Lowest 38% below MA |
$6,338Highest 6% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.7%±6.7 MA: 51.8% |
53.2%±25.4Highest MA: 51.8% |
47.4%±4.1 MA: 51.8% |
33.9%±17.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Brimfield 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% |
3.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
6.4% MA: 10% |
4.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
87.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.1% MA: 62.5% |
83.8% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962Lowest 2 yrs older than MA |
1988Highest 24 yrs newer than MA |
1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
1986 22 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 5% above MA |
34 minHighest 16% above MA |
27 minLowest 6% below MA |
34 minHighest 16% above MA |
| Work from home | 8%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
13.7%±5.7 MA: 18.6% |
9.1%±2.5 MA: 18.6% |
20.9%±4.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Douglas and Brimfield 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 | #108 of 282 in MA | #142 of 282 in MA | #177 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Webster | Brimfield | Dudley-Charlton Reg | Douglas |
| High school in town | Bartlett High School | None in town | Shepherd Hill Regional High | Douglas High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6 |
— | 14.3Highest |
7.2Lowest |
| 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.