Compare towns
Webster vs Middlefield vs Webster 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
Middlefield has the oldest population (median age 51.6).
Webster has the most renters (54.5% rent).
Dudley has the most expensive homes ($393k median).
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 | Middlefield | Webster | Dudley |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,748Highest |
4,243Lowest |
12,228 |
11,929 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +6.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.9±2.9 about the U.S. average |
51.6±1.9Highest 33% above U.S. |
37.2±2.1Lowest 4% below U.S. |
40.2±2.4 3% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
13.9%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Webster 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% |
25.5%±7.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.7%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.9%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Middlefield 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% |
41.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
18.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
24.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
13.1%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $72,895±$6k 10% below U.S. |
$99,837±$20kHighest 24% above U.S. |
$63,837±$8kLowest 21% below U.S. |
$84,604±$12k 5% above U.S. |
| Middlefield 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 9% above U.S. |
$376,000±$27k 13% above U.S. |
$333,100±$14kLowest about the U.S. average |
$392,600±$19kHighest 18% above U.S. |
| Dudley and Middlefield 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. |
$3,501Highest 148% above U.S. |
$1,198±$85Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$1,217±$182 14% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,999 28% above U.S. |
$6,853Highest 120% above U.S. |
$3,234Lowest 4% above U.S. |
$3,691 18% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.7%±6.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
85.4%±52.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.1%±7.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
47.4%±4.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Middlefield and Dudley 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% |
8.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
16%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
45.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1961 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1954Lowest 26 yrs older than U.S. |
1967Highest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 16% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
28 min 4% above U.S. |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 8%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.9%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.1%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.1%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlefield 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 | #65 of 149 in CT | #271 of 282 in MA | #142 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Webster | Regional School District 13 | — | Dudley-Charlton Reg |
| High school in town | Bartlett High School | None in town | — | 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 | 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.