Compare towns
Dudley vs Gardner vs Thompson
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dudley has the most expensive homes ($393k median).
Gardner has the most renters (41.1% rent).
Thompson has the oldest population (median age 54.1).
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 | Dudley | Gardner | Thompson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,929 |
21,148Highest |
9,337Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 40.2±2.4Lowest 3% above U.S. |
43.7±2.3 12% above U.S. |
54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 20.6%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.3%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Dudley and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.9%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.6%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Thompson and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
23.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
21.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.1%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $84,604±$12k 5% above U.S. |
$67,518±$8kLowest 16% below U.S. |
$93,629±$18kHighest 16% above U.S. |
| Thompson and Dudley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $392,600±$19kHighest 18% above U.S. |
$301,600±$20k 9% below U.S. |
$291,900±$24kLowest 12% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,217±$182Highest 14% below U.S. |
$1,109±$51 22% below U.S. |
$1,012±$344Lowest 28% below U.S. |
| Dudley and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,691Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$4,150Highest 33% above U.S. |
$3,822 23% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.4%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
49.7%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
54%±18.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Thompson and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
13.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
58.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Highest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1954Lowest 26 yrs older than U.S. |
1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
31 min 16% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Gardner and Thompson 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 | #142 of 282 in MA | #273 of 282 in MA | #130 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Dudley-Charlton Reg | Gardner | Thompson School District |
| High school in town | Shepherd Hill Regional High | Gardner High | Tourtellotte Memorial High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.3Highest |
13.5 |
7.9Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.