Compare towns
Webster vs Stoneham vs Clinton 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).
Stoneham has the most people working from home (24.6%).
Clinton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13.4%).
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 | Stoneham | Clinton | Dudley |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,748 |
23,355Highest |
15,563 |
11,929Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% MA: +7.4% |
+8.4% MA: +7.4% |
+13.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.7%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.9±2.9 about the MA average |
42.2±2.2Highest 6% above MA |
38.6±2.7Lowest 4% below MA |
40.2±2.4 about the MA average |
| Stoneham 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% |
20.8%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
17.8%±2.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.6%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
| Stoneham 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% |
20.4%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
14.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
16.9%±3 MA: 17.9% |
| Stoneham 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% |
55.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
36.6% MA: 47.3% |
24.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±1.6 MA: 7.9% |
4.7%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.9%±2 MA: 7.9% |
13.1%±2Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $72,895±$6kLowest 30% below MA |
$113,964±$10kHighest 10% above MA |
$89,781±$10k 14% below MA |
$84,604±$12k 19% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $361,500±$12kLowest 36% below MA |
$671,900±$26kHighest 20% above MA |
$387,300±$19k 31% below MA |
$392,600±$19k 30% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,228±$81 30% below MA |
$2,035±$142Highest 15% above MA |
$1,402±$76 20% below MA |
$1,217±$182Lowest 31% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,999 33% below MA |
$6,523Highest 9% above MA |
$4,654 22% below MA |
$3,691Lowest 38% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.7%±6.7 MA: 51.8% |
41.9%±8.2 MA: 51.8% |
40.3%±6.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
47.4%±4.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
| 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 MA: 10% |
5.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
8.6% MA: 10% |
6.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.8% MA: 62.5% |
71% MA: 62.5% |
54.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
73.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962 2 yrs older than MA |
1964 same as MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1967Highest 3 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 5% above MA |
28 min 4% below MA |
30 min about the MA average |
27 minLowest 6% below MA |
| Work from home | 8%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
24.6%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
14.2%±4.2 MA: 18.6% |
9.1%±2.5 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #271 of 282 in MA | #117 of 282 in MA | #246 of 282 in MA | #142 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Webster | Stoneham | Clinton | Dudley-Charlton Reg |
| High school in town | Bartlett High School | Stoneham High | Clinton Senior High | Shepherd Hill Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6 |
10.7Lowest |
12.8 |
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.