Compare towns
Webster vs Williamsburg 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%).
Williamsburg has the most people working from home (26.5%).
Whitman has the most expensive homes ($473k 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 | Williamsburg | Whitman | Dudley |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,748Highest |
2,694Lowest |
15,295 |
11,929 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+0.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4% MA: +7.4% |
+4.7% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.9±2.9Lowest about the MA average |
50±2.4Highest 25% above MA |
40.4±1.8 about the MA average |
40.2±2.4 about the MA average |
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±2.9 MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.1%±3.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.6%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
| Whitman 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% |
22.7%±3.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
15.5%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
16.9%±3 MA: 17.9% |
| Williamsburg 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% |
60.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
31.3% MA: 47.3% |
24.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±1.6 MA: 7.9% |
6.2%±2.7 MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
13.1%±2Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $72,895±$6kLowest 30% below MA |
$104,792±$21k about the MA average |
$108,933±$14kHighest 5% above MA |
$84,604±$12k 19% below MA |
| Whitman and Williamsburg 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 |
$403,100±$37k 28% below MA |
$472,700±$12kHighest 16% below MA |
$392,600±$19k 30% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,228±$81 30% below MA |
$1,420±$228 19% below MA |
$1,771±$151Highest about the MA average |
$1,217±$182Lowest 31% below MA |
| Whitman and Williamsburg 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 |
$5,761 4% 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% |
61%±28 MA: 51.8% |
61.9%±13.4Highest MA: 51.8% |
47.4%±4.1 MA: 51.8% |
| Whitman and Williamsburg 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% |
2.3%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.9% MA: 10% |
6.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
82.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
71.4% MA: 62.5% |
73.1% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962 2 yrs older than MA |
1955Lowest 9 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 |
25 minLowest 13% below MA |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
27 min 6% below MA |
| Work from home | 8%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
26.5%±6.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.8%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
9.1%±2.5 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #271 of 282 in MA | — | #191 of 282 in MA | #142 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Webster | Williamsburg | Whitman-Hanson | Dudley-Charlton Reg |
| High school in town | Bartlett High School | None in town | 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.