Compare towns
Webster vs Exeter vs Whitman 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
Webster has the most renters (40.2% rent).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Whitman has the most expensive homes ($473k median).
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.
| Measure | Webster | Exeter | Whitman | Dudley |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,748Highest |
16,151 |
15,295 |
11,929Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.9±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
45.8±2.3Highest 18% above U.S. |
40.4±1.8 4% above U.S. |
40.2±2.4 3% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Whitman 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% |
24.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.9%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Exeter 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% |
59.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
31.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
24.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
13.1%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $72,895±$6kLowest 10% below U.S. |
$110,346±$13kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$108,933±$14k 35% above U.S. |
$84,604±$12k 5% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Whitman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $361,500±$12kLowest 9% above U.S. |
$456,600±$21k 37% above U.S. |
$472,700±$12kHighest 42% above U.S. |
$392,600±$19k 18% above U.S. |
| Whitman and Exeter 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. |
$1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S. |
$1,771±$151 25% above U.S. |
$1,217±$182Lowest 14% below U.S. |
| Exeter and Whitman 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. |
$8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$5,824 87% above U.S. |
$3,691Lowest 18% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.7%±6.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
61.9%±13.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.4%±4.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Whitman and Exeter 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% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1957Lowest 23 yrs older than U.S. |
1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 16% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
36 minHighest 37% above U.S. |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 8%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±2.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.1%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #271 of 282 in MA | #22 of 120 in NH | #191 of 282 in MA | #142 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Webster | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Whitman-Hanson | Dudley-Charlton Reg |
| High school in town | Bartlett High School | Exeter High School | None in town | Shepherd Hill Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6Lowest |
12.1 |
— | 14.3Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 59 photos → | 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.