Compare towns
Webster vs Springfield vs Whitman 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
Springfield has the most affordable homes ($245k median).
Whitman has the highest household income ($109k).
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 | Springfield | Whitman | Dudley |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,748 |
154,749Highest |
15,295 |
11,929Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+1.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4% MA: +7.4% |
+4.7% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.9±2.9 about the MA average |
33.7±0.5Lowest 16% below MA |
40.4±1.8Highest about the MA average |
40.2±2.4 about the MA average |
| Whitman 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 MA: 19.4% |
24.2%±0.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.1%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
20.6%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
| Springfield and Whitman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.6%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
13.2%±0.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
15.5%±2.1 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% MA: 47.3% |
20.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
31.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
24.1% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±1.6 MA: 7.9% |
7.5%±0.5 MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
13.1%±2Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $72,895±$6k 30% below MA |
$52,656±$2kLowest 49% below MA |
$108,933±$14kHighest 5% above MA |
$84,604±$12k 19% below MA |
| Whitman 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 |
$245,000±$4kLowest 56% below MA |
$472,700±$12kHighest 16% below MA |
$392,600±$19k 30% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,228±$81 30% below MA |
$1,144±$55Lowest 35% below MA |
$1,771±$151Highest about the MA average |
$1,217±$182 31% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,999 33% below MA |
$3,695 38% below MA |
$5,824Highest about the MA average |
$3,691Lowest 38% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.7%±6.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
57.7%±3.1 MA: 51.8% |
61.9%±13.4Highest MA: 51.8% |
47.4%±4.1 MA: 51.8% |
| Whitman and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 12.7% MA: 10% |
25.8%Highest MA: 10% |
7.9% MA: 10% |
6.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.8% MA: 62.5% |
49.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
71.4% MA: 62.5% |
73.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962 2 yrs older than MA |
1952Lowest 12 yrs older than MA |
1957 7 yrs older than MA |
1967Highest 3 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 5% above MA |
20 minLowest 31% below MA |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
27 min 6% below MA |
| Work from home | 8%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
8.4%±0.9 MA: 18.6% |
10.8%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
9.1%±2.5 MA: 18.6% |
| Whitman 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 | #276 of 282 in MA | #191 of 282 in MA | #142 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Webster | Springfield | Whitman-Hanson | Dudley-Charlton Reg |
| High school in town | Bartlett High School | Springfield Central High | None in town | Shepherd Hill Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6Lowest |
12.2 |
— | 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.