Compare towns
Webster vs Lancaster 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).
Lancaster has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.5%).
Dudley has the highest household income ($85k).
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 | Lancaster | Dudley |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 17,748Highest |
2,230Lowest |
11,929 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.9±2.9 about the U.S. average |
38.6±8.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
40.2±2.4Highest 3% above U.S. |
| Dudley and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
25.1%±8.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Lancaster 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.6%±4.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.9%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 25.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
23.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
24.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
13.1%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $72,895±$6k 10% below U.S. |
$66,765±$20kLowest 17% below U.S. |
$84,604±$12kHighest 5% above U.S. |
| Dudley and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $361,500±$12k 9% above U.S. |
$200,500±$24kLowest 40% below U.S. |
$392,600±$19kHighest 18% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,228±$81Highest 13% below U.S. |
$1,036±$221Lowest 27% below U.S. |
$1,217±$182 14% below U.S. |
| Webster and Dudley 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. |
$4,225Highest 35% above U.S. |
$3,691Lowest 18% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.7%±6.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.2%±18.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.4%±4.1Highest 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% |
19.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
65.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1967Highest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 16% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 8%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.6%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.1%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lancaster 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 | #107 of 120 in NH | #142 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Webster | — | Dudley-Charlton Reg |
| High school in town | Bartlett High School | — | Shepherd Hill Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6Lowest |
— | 14.3Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.