Compare towns
Webster vs Chaplin 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
Chaplin has the most people working from home (18.1%).
Webster has the most renters (54.5% rent).
Dudley has the most expensive homes ($393k median).
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 | Chaplin | Webster | Dudley |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,748Highest |
2,070Lowest |
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 |
43.7±4.8Highest 12% above U.S. |
37.2±2.1Lowest 4% below U.S. |
40.2±2.4 3% above U.S. |
| Chaplin and Dudley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
15.7%±4.2Lowest 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% |
20.9%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.7%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.9%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Chaplin 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% |
25.4%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%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
10.1%±6.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
6%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
13.1%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dudley and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $72,895±$6k 10% below U.S. |
$97,846±$14kHighest 21% above U.S. |
$63,837±$8kLowest 21% below U.S. |
$84,604±$12k 5% above U.S. |
| Chaplin 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. |
$255,200±$24kLowest 23% below U.S. |
$333,100±$14k about the U.S. average |
$392,600±$19kHighest 18% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,228±$81 13% below U.S. |
$1,473±$275Highest 4% above U.S. |
$1,198±$85Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$1,217±$182 14% below U.S. |
| Chaplin and Webster 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. |
$4,524Highest 45% above U.S. |
$3,234Lowest 4% above U.S. |
$3,691 18% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.7%±6.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
33.6%±27.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.1%±7.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
47.4%±4.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dudley and Webster 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% |
5.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
16%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
45.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr 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 min 16% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 23% 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% |
18.1%±10Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.1%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.1%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Chaplin 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 | — | #271 of 282 in MA | #142 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Webster | Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 | — | Dudley-Charlton Reg |
| High school in town | Bartlett High School | Parish Hill High School | — | Shepherd Hill Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6 |
7.5Lowest |
— | 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.