Compare towns
Webster vs Hardwick vs Dudley vs Whitman
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Webster has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
Hardwick has the oldest population (median age 45.3).
Dudley has the shortest commute (27 min average).
Whitman has the highest household income ($109k).
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 | Hardwick | Dudley | Whitman |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,748Highest |
2,684Lowest |
11,929 |
15,295 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-10.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.7% MA: +7.4% |
+4.4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.9±2.9Lowest about the MA average |
45.3±9.8Highest 13% above MA |
40.2±2.4 about the MA average |
40.4±1.8 about the MA average |
| Hardwick and Whitman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±2.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.5%±5.6 MA: 19.4% |
20.6%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
21.1%±3.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
| 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 MA: 17.9% |
22.7%±5Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.9%±3 MA: 17.9% |
15.5%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Hardwick 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% |
30.9% MA: 47.3% |
24.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
31.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±1.6 MA: 7.9% |
6.2%±4.4 MA: 7.9% |
13.1%±2Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $72,895±$6kLowest 30% below MA |
$75,000±$22k 28% below MA |
$84,604±$12k 19% below MA |
$108,933±$14kHighest 5% above MA |
| Whitman 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 36% below MA |
$346,700±$67kLowest 38% below MA |
$392,600±$19k 30% below MA |
$472,700±$12kHighest 16% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,228±$81 30% below MA |
$1,108±$119Lowest 37% below MA |
$1,217±$182 31% below MA |
$1,771±$151Highest about the MA average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,999 33% below MA |
$4,400 27% below MA |
$3,691Lowest 38% below MA |
$5,824Highest about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.7%±6.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
59%±13.8 MA: 51.8% |
47.4%±4.1 MA: 51.8% |
61.9%±13.4Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Whitman and Hardwick 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% |
11% MA: 10% |
6.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
68.2% MA: 62.5% |
73.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
71.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962 2 yrs older than MA |
1968Highest 4 yrs newer than MA |
1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
1957Lowest 7 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 5% above MA |
31 min 7% above MA |
27 minLowest 6% below MA |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
| Work from home | 8%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
8.7%±4.3 MA: 18.6% |
9.1%±2.5 MA: 18.6% |
10.8%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Whitman 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 | #163 of 282 in MA | #142 of 282 in MA | #191 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Webster | Quabbin | Dudley-Charlton Reg | Whitman-Hanson |
| High school in town | Bartlett High School | None in town | Shepherd Hill Regional High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6Lowest |
— | 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.