Compare towns
Webster vs Jackson vs Dudley vs Clinton
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 affordable homes ($362k median).
Jackson has grown the fastest since 2010 (+26%).
Dudley has the most kids (20.6% under 18).
Clinton has the most renters (45.3% rent).
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 | Jackson | Dudley | Clinton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,748Highest |
897Lowest |
11,929 |
15,563 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+26%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+13.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.9±2.9 about the U.S. average |
60.5±2.5Highest 56% above U.S. |
40.2±2.4 3% above U.S. |
38.6±2.7Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
4.1%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.6%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.8%±2.5 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%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
28.4%±6.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.9%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Jackson 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% |
67.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
24.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
13.1%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $72,895±$6kLowest 10% below U.S. |
$117,986±$46kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$84,604±$12k 5% above U.S. |
$89,781±$10k 11% above U.S. |
| Jackson and Clinton 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. |
$719,300±$109kHighest 116% above U.S. |
$392,600±$19k 18% above U.S. |
$387,300±$19k 16% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,228±$81 13% below U.S. |
$1,750±$1kHighest 24% above U.S. |
$1,217±$182Lowest 14% below U.S. |
$1,402±$76 about the U.S. average |
| Jackson and Clinton 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. |
$6,001Highest 92% above U.S. |
$3,691Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$4,654 49% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.7%±6.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
21.1%±59.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.4%±4.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40.3%±6.4 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
16.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
91.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
54.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 16% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
30 min 13% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 8%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.2%±10.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.1%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.2%±4.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Jackson 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 |
| School district | Webster | Jackson School District | Dudley-Charlton Reg | Clinton |
| High school in town | Bartlett High School | None in town | Shepherd Hill Regional High | Clinton Senior High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6Lowest |
— | 14.3Highest |
12.8 |
| 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.