Compare towns
Webster vs Clinton vs Plainfield 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
Clinton has the most people working from home (14.2%).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Dudley has the most kids (20.6% under 18).
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 | Clinton | Plainfield | Dudley |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,748Highest |
15,563 |
15,141 |
11,929Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+13.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.9±2.9 about the U.S. average |
38.6±2.7 about the U.S. average |
37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
40.2±2.4Highest 3% above U.S. |
| 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%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
17.8%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
20.6%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Dudley and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.6%±2.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.6%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.9%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
36.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
15%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
24.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
13.1%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $72,895±$6kLowest 10% below U.S. |
$89,781±$10kHighest 11% above U.S. |
$76,993±$8k 5% below U.S. |
$84,604±$12k 5% above U.S. |
| Clinton 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. |
$387,300±$19k 16% above U.S. |
$272,100±$16kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$392,600±$19kHighest 18% above U.S. |
| Dudley and Clinton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,228±$81 13% below U.S. |
$1,402±$76Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,204±$70Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$1,217±$182 14% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,999 28% above U.S. |
$4,654Highest 49% above U.S. |
$4,209 35% above U.S. |
$3,691Lowest 18% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.7%±6.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
40.3%±6.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
39.8%±9.5Lowest 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%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
54.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Highest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 16% above U.S. |
30 min 13% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 8%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.2%±4.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.1%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Clinton and Plainfield 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 | #246 of 282 in MA | #131 of 149 in CT | #142 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Webster | Clinton | Plainfield School District | Dudley-Charlton Reg |
| High school in town | Bartlett High School | Clinton Senior High | Plainfield High School | Shepherd Hill Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6 |
12.8 |
10.3Lowest |
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.