Compare towns
Webster vs Plainville vs Webster vs Dudley
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Plainville has grown the fastest since 2010 (+20.3%).
Webster has the most renters (54.5% rent).
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 | Plainville | Webster | Dudley |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,748Highest |
9,943Lowest |
12,228 |
11,929 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% MA: +7.4% |
+20.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6.9% MA: +7.4% |
+4.7%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.9±2.9 about the MA average |
43.2±3.6Highest 8% above MA |
37.2±2.1Lowest 7% below MA |
40.2±2.4 about the MA average |
| Plainville and Dudley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±2.9 MA: 19.4% |
18.3%±4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.8%±3.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.6%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
| 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 MA: 17.9% |
22.2%±3.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
15.7%±2.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
16.9%±3 MA: 17.9% |
| Plainville 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% MA: 47.3% |
44.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
18.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
24.1% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±1.6 MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±2.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
13.1%±2Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $72,895±$6k 30% below MA |
$104,106±$13kHighest about the MA average |
$63,837±$8kLowest 39% below MA |
$84,604±$12k 19% below MA |
| Plainville 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 36% below MA |
$476,000±$35kHighest 15% below MA |
$333,100±$14kLowest 41% below MA |
$392,600±$19k 30% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,228±$81 30% below MA |
$1,977±$197Highest 12% above MA |
$1,198±$85Lowest 32% below MA |
$1,217±$182 31% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,999 33% below MA |
$5,329Highest 11% below MA |
$3,234Lowest 46% below MA |
$3,691 38% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.7%±6.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
53.8%±13.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
46.1%±7.4 MA: 51.8% |
47.4%±4.1 MA: 51.8% |
| Plainville and Dudley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 12.7% MA: 10% |
7.4% MA: 10% |
16%Highest MA: 10% |
6.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.8% MA: 62.5% |
70.4% MA: 62.5% |
45.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
73.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962 2 yrs older than MA |
1978Highest 14 yrs newer than MA |
1954Lowest 10 yrs older than MA |
1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 5% above MA |
29 min about the MA average |
28 min 5% below MA |
27 minLowest 6% below MA |
| Work from home | 8%±2.5 MA: 18.6% |
17.9%±4.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
7.1%±2.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
9.1%±2.5 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #271 of 282 in MA | #102 of 282 in MA | #271 of 282 in MA | #142 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Webster | Plainville | — | 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 |
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.