Compare towns
Webster vs Lawrence vs Dudley
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).
Lawrence has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.7%).
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 | Lawrence | Dudley |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 17,748 |
88,736Highest |
11,929Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% MA: +7.4% |
+16.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.7%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.9±2.9 about the MA average |
32.6±0.9Lowest 19% below MA |
40.2±2.4Highest about the MA average |
| 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 MA: 19.4% |
26.3%±1.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.6%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 19.6%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
10.5%±0.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
16.9%±3 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%Highest MA: 47.3% |
16.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
24.1% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±1.6 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±0.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
13.1%±2Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $72,895±$6k 30% below MA |
$60,433±$3kLowest 42% below MA |
$84,604±$12kHighest 19% below MA |
| 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±$12kLowest 36% below MA |
$415,200±$23kHighest 26% below MA |
$392,600±$19k 30% below MA |
| Lawrence and Dudley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,228±$81 30% below MA |
$1,662±$50Highest 6% below MA |
$1,217±$182Lowest 31% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,999Highest 33% below MA |
$3,422Lowest 43% below MA |
$3,691 38% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.7%±6.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
60.6%±3.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
47.4%±4.1 MA: 51.8% |
| Below poverty line | 12.7% MA: 10% |
17.6%Highest MA: 10% |
6.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.8% MA: 62.5% |
28.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
73.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962 2 yrs older than MA |
1950Lowest 14 yrs older than MA |
1967Highest 3 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 5% above MA |
23 minLowest 21% below MA |
27 min 6% below MA |
| Work from home | 8%±2.5 MA: 18.6% |
6.8%±1.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
9.1%±2.5Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Dudley and Webster 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 | #278 of 282 in MA | #142 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Webster | Lawrence | Dudley-Charlton Reg |
| High school in town | Bartlett High School | Lawrence High School | Shepherd Hill Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6Lowest |
13.6 |
14.3Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.