Compare towns
Webster vs Dedham vs Douglas 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 renters (40.2% rent).
Dedham has the most expensive homes ($662k median).
Douglas has the highest household income ($152k).
Dudley has the shortest commute (27 min average).
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 | Dedham | Douglas | Dudley |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,748 |
25,237Highest |
9,207Lowest |
11,929 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.7% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.9±2.9Lowest about the MA average |
44.6±1.6Highest 12% above MA |
44±2.6 10% above MA |
40.2±2.4 about the MA average |
| Dedham and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±2.9 MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.2%±3.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.6%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
| Douglas 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 MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2Highest MA: 17.9% |
15.4%±3.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
16.9%±3 MA: 17.9% |
| Dedham 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% |
55%Highest MA: 47.3% |
41.7% MA: 47.3% |
24.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±1.6 MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±2.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
13.1%±2Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $72,895±$6kLowest 30% below MA |
$128,955±$10k 24% above MA |
$152,267±$10kHighest 46% above MA |
$84,604±$12k 19% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $361,500±$12kLowest 36% below MA |
$661,800±$16kHighest 18% above MA |
$470,600±$29k 16% below MA |
$392,600±$19k 30% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,228±$81 30% below MA |
$2,042±$182Highest 16% above MA |
$1,503±$697 15% below MA |
$1,217±$182Lowest 31% below MA |
| Dedham and Douglas 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 |
$7,918Highest 32% above MA |
$6,338 6% above MA |
$3,691Lowest 38% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.7%±6.7 MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10Highest MA: 51.8% |
33.9%±17.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
47.4%±4.1 MA: 51.8% |
| Dedham 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% |
5.6% MA: 10% |
4.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
6.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
73.4% MA: 62.5% |
83.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.1% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962 2 yrs older than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 5% above MA |
29 min about the MA average |
34 minHighest 16% above MA |
27 minLowest 6% below MA |
| Work from home | 8%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
20.9%±4.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
9.1%±2.5 MA: 18.6% |
| Douglas and Dedham 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 | #119 of 282 in MA | #177 of 282 in MA | #142 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Webster | Dedham | Douglas | Dudley-Charlton Reg |
| High school in town | Bartlett High School | Dedham High | Douglas High School | Shepherd Hill Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6 |
10.4 |
7.2Lowest |
14.3Highest |
| 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.