Compare towns

Webster vs Brockton 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 affordable homes ($362k median).
Brockton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.6%).
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.

MeasureWebsterBrocktonDudley
People
Population
17,748
105,386Highest
11,929Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+6%
MA: +7.4%
+12.6%Highest
MA: +7.4%
+4.7%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
Median age
39.9±2.9
about the MA average
36.7±0.8Lowest
8% below MA
40.2±2.4Highest
about the MA average
Dudley and Webster 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%
25.3%±1Highest
MA: 19.4%
20.6%±3.3
MA: 19.4%
Age 65+
19.6%±2.5Highest
MA: 17.9%
14.4%±0.9Lowest
MA: 17.9%
16.9%±3
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%Highest
MA: 47.3%
22.3%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
24.1%
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.8%±1.6Lowest
MA: 7.9%
6.3%±0.7
MA: 7.9%
13.1%±2Highest
MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$72,895±$6kLowest
30% below MA
$80,115±$3k
23% below MA
$84,604±$12kHighest
19% below MA
Dudley and Brockton 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
$437,500±$8kHighest
22% below MA
$392,600±$19k
30% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,228±$81
30% below MA
$1,641±$52Highest
7% below MA
$1,217±$182Lowest
31% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,999
33% below MA
$4,820Highest
20% below MA
$3,691Lowest
38% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
45.7%±6.7Lowest
MA: 51.8%
54.5%±4.2Highest
MA: 51.8%
47.4%±4.1
MA: 51.8%
Brockton and Dudley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
12.7%
MA: 10%
13.5%Highest
MA: 10%
6.4%Lowest
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
59.8%
MA: 62.5%
57.4%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
73.1%Highest
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1962
2 yrs older than MA
1960Lowest
4 yrs older than MA
1967Highest
3 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
31 min
5% above MA
32 minHighest
8% above MA
27 minLowest
6% below MA
Work from home
8%±2.5
MA: 18.6%
6.9%±1Lowest
MA: 18.6%
9.1%±2.5Highest
MA: 18.6%
Dudley and Webster 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 #279 of 282 in MA #142 of 282 in MA
School district Webster Brockton Dudley-Charlton Reg
High school in town Bartlett High School Brockton High Shepherd Hill Regional High
Students per teacherat that high school
11.6Lowest
17.0Highest
14.3
On TownTapestry
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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.