Compare towns
Webster vs Townsend vs Dudley vs Clinton
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).
Townsend has the highest household income ($122k).
Dudley has the shortest commute (27 min average).
Clinton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13.4%).
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 | Townsend | Dudley | Clinton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,748Highest |
9,100Lowest |
11,929 |
15,563 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% MA: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.7% MA: +7.4% |
+13.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.9±2.9 about the MA average |
40.9±3.3Highest about the MA average |
40.2±2.4 about the MA average |
38.6±2.7Lowest 4% below MA |
| Townsend 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% |
21%±3.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.6%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
17.8%±2.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Townsend and Dudley 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% |
17.1%±2.1 MA: 17.9% |
16.9%±3 MA: 17.9% |
14.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Webster and Townsend 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% |
35.5% MA: 47.3% |
24.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
36.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±1.6 MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
13.1%±2Highest MA: 7.9% |
6.9%±2 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $72,895±$6kLowest 30% below MA |
$121,528±$23kHighest 17% above MA |
$84,604±$12k 19% below MA |
$89,781±$10k 14% below MA |
| Townsend and Clinton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $361,500±$12kLowest 36% below MA |
$433,200±$22kHighest 23% below MA |
$392,600±$19k 30% below MA |
$387,300±$19k 31% below MA |
| Townsend and Dudley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,228±$81 30% below MA |
$1,469±$313Highest 17% below MA |
$1,217±$182Lowest 31% below MA |
$1,402±$76 20% below MA |
| Townsend and Clinton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,999 33% below MA |
$6,031Highest about the MA average |
$3,691Lowest 38% below MA |
$4,654 22% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.7%±6.7 MA: 51.8% |
50.6%±16.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
47.4%±4.1 MA: 51.8% |
40.3%±6.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Townsend and Dudley 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% |
8.9% MA: 10% |
6.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
8.6% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.8% MA: 62.5% |
82%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.1% MA: 62.5% |
54.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962 2 yrs older than MA |
1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 5% above MA |
37 minHighest 27% above MA |
27 minLowest 6% below MA |
30 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 8%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2.8 MA: 18.6% |
9.1%±2.5 MA: 18.6% |
14.2%±4.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Clinton and Townsend 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 | #136 of 282 in MA | #142 of 282 in MA | #246 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Webster | North Middlesex | Dudley-Charlton Reg | Clinton |
| High school in town | Bartlett High School | North Middlesex Regional | Shepherd Hill Regional High | Clinton Senior High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6Lowest |
13.1 |
14.3Highest |
12.8 |
| 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.