Compare towns
Webster vs Dudley vs Clinton 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 affordable homes ($362k median).
Dudley has the shortest commute (27 min average).
Clinton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13.4%).
Douglas has the highest household income ($152k).
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 | Dudley | Clinton | Douglas |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,748Highest |
11,929 |
15,563 |
9,207Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% MA: +7.4% |
+4.7%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+13.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.9±2.9 about the MA average |
40.2±2.4 about the MA average |
38.6±2.7Lowest 4% below MA |
44±2.6Highest 10% above MA |
| Douglas 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 MA: 19.4% |
20.6%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
17.8%±2.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.2%±3.8Highest 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%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.9%±3 MA: 17.9% |
14.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
15.4%±3.1 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% MA: 47.3% |
24.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
36.6% MA: 47.3% |
41.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±1.6 MA: 7.9% |
13.1%±2Highest MA: 7.9% |
6.9%±2 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±2.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $72,895±$6kLowest 30% below MA |
$84,604±$12k 19% below MA |
$89,781±$10k 14% below MA |
$152,267±$10kHighest 46% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $361,500±$12kLowest 36% below MA |
$392,600±$19k 30% below MA |
$387,300±$19k 31% below MA |
$470,600±$29kHighest 16% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,228±$81 30% below MA |
$1,217±$182Lowest 31% below MA |
$1,402±$76 20% below MA |
$1,503±$697Highest 15% below MA |
| Douglas and Clinton 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 |
$3,691Lowest 38% below MA |
$4,654 22% below MA |
$6,338Highest 6% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.7%±6.7 MA: 51.8% |
47.4%±4.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
40.3%±6.4 MA: 51.8% |
33.9%±17.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| 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 MA: 10% |
6.4% MA: 10% |
8.6% MA: 10% |
4.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.8% MA: 62.5% |
73.1% MA: 62.5% |
54.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962 2 yrs older than MA |
1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 5% above MA |
27 minLowest 6% below MA |
30 min about the MA average |
34 minHighest 16% above MA |
| Work from home | 8%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
9.1%±2.5 MA: 18.6% |
14.2%±4.2 MA: 18.6% |
20.9%±4.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Douglas and Clinton 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 | #142 of 282 in MA | #246 of 282 in MA | #177 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Webster | Dudley-Charlton Reg | Clinton | Douglas |
| High school in town | Bartlett High School | Shepherd Hill Regional High | Clinton Senior High | Douglas High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6 |
14.3Highest |
12.8 |
7.2Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.