Compare towns
Webster vs Middlesex 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
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 | Middlesex | Dudley |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 17,748Highest |
1,943Lowest |
11,929 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.9±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
44.4±3.9Highest 14% above U.S. |
40.2±2.4 3% above U.S. |
| Middlesex and Dudley 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% |
21.3%±3.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Middlesex 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% |
20.6%±3.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.9%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Middlesex 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% |
54.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
24.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
13.1%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $72,895±$6kLowest 10% below U.S. |
$109,632±$13kHighest 36% above U.S. |
$84,604±$12k 5% above U.S. |
| Middlesex 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±$12kLowest 9% above U.S. |
$376,300±$40k 13% above U.S. |
$392,600±$19kHighest 18% above U.S. |
| Dudley and Middlesex 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. |
$1,333±$359Highest 6% below U.S. |
$1,217±$182Lowest 14% below U.S. |
| Middlesex and Webster 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. |
$6,483Highest 108% above U.S. |
$3,691Lowest 18% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.7%±6.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest 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%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962Lowest 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 16% above U.S. |
27 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
27 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 8%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.1%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #271 of 282 in MA | — | #142 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Webster | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | 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 |
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.