Compare towns
Dudley vs Gardner vs Sutton vs Webster
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dudley has the shortest commute (27 min average).
Gardner has the most affordable homes ($302k median).
Sutton has the highest household income ($147k).
Webster has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
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 | Dudley | Gardner | Sutton | Webster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,929 |
21,148Highest |
9,452Lowest |
17,748 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.7% MA: +7.4% |
+5.2% MA: +7.4% |
+4.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.2±2.4 about the MA average |
43.7±2.3 9% above MA |
44.3±2.5Highest 11% above MA |
39.9±2.9Lowest about the MA average |
| Sutton and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.6%±3.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.3%±2.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±2.9 MA: 19.4% |
| Dudley and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 16.9%±3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.6%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.2 MA: 17.9% |
19.6%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24.1% MA: 47.3% |
23.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
52.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
25.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.1%±2Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.8%±1.6 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $84,604±$12k 19% below MA |
$67,518±$8kLowest 35% below MA |
$147,125±$25kHighest 42% above MA |
$72,895±$6k 30% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $392,600±$19k 30% below MA |
$301,600±$20kLowest 46% below MA |
$523,100±$47kHighest 7% below MA |
$361,500±$12k 36% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,217±$182 31% below MA |
$1,109±$51Lowest 37% below MA |
$1,190±$401 32% below MA |
$1,228±$81Highest 30% below MA |
| Webster and Dudley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,691Lowest 38% below MA |
$4,150 31% below MA |
$6,763Highest 13% above MA |
$3,999 33% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.4%±4.1 MA: 51.8% |
49.7%±8.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4 MA: 51.8% |
45.7%±6.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Gardner and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.4% MA: 10% |
13.7%Highest MA: 10% |
5.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
12.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.1% MA: 62.5% |
58.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
59.8% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
1954Lowest 10 yrs older than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1962 2 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 6% below MA |
31 minHighest 5% above MA |
30 min about the MA average |
31 minHighest 5% above MA |
| Work from home | 9.1%±2.5 MA: 18.6% |
13.3%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
8%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #142 of 282 in MA | #273 of 282 in MA | #105 of 282 in MA | #271 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dudley-Charlton Reg | Gardner | Sutton | Webster |
| High school in town | Shepherd Hill Regional High | Gardner High | Sutton High School | Bartlett High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.3Highest |
13.5 |
12.6 |
11.6Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.