Compare towns
Gardner vs Dudley vs Ware vs Webster
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Gardner has the most people working from home (13.3%).
Dudley has the highest household income ($85k).
Ware has the most affordable homes ($290k median).
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 | Gardner | Dudley | Ware | Webster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 21,148Highest |
11,929 |
10,048Lowest |
17,748 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.2% MA: +7.4% |
+4.7% MA: +7.4% |
+2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±2.3Highest 9% above MA |
40.2±2.4 about the MA average |
43.1±4.7 8% above MA |
39.9±2.9Lowest about the MA average |
| Gardner and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.3%±2.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.6%±3.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.1%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±2.9 MA: 19.4% |
| Dudley and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.6%±2.2 MA: 17.9% |
16.9%±3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.6%±3.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.6%±2.5 MA: 17.9% |
| Ware and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 23.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
24.1% MA: 47.3% |
24% MA: 47.3% |
25.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
13.1%±2Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.8%±1.6 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $67,518±$8k 35% below MA |
$84,604±$12kHighest 19% below MA |
$67,475±$15kLowest 35% below MA |
$72,895±$6k 30% below MA |
| Dudley and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $301,600±$20k 46% below MA |
$392,600±$19kHighest 30% below MA |
$289,700±$28kLowest 48% below MA |
$361,500±$12k 36% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,109±$51 37% below MA |
$1,217±$182 31% below MA |
$1,043±$109Lowest 41% 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 | $4,150 31% below MA |
$3,691Lowest 38% below MA |
$4,237Highest 29% below MA |
$3,999 33% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.7%±8.6 MA: 51.8% |
47.4%±4.1 MA: 51.8% |
64.3%±16.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
45.7%±6.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Ware and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 13.7%Highest MA: 10% |
6.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
11.8% MA: 10% |
12.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
73.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
72.3% MA: 62.5% |
59.8% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1954Lowest 10 yrs older than MA |
1967Highest 3 yrs newer than MA |
1960 4 yrs older than MA |
1962 2 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 5% above MA |
27 minLowest 6% below MA |
28 min about the MA average |
31 minHighest 5% above MA |
| Work from home | 13.3%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
9.1%±2.5 MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
8%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Gardner and Ware 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 | #273 of 282 in MA | #142 of 282 in MA | #267 of 282 in MA | #271 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Gardner | Dudley-Charlton Reg | Ware | Webster |
| High school in town | Gardner High | Shepherd Hill Regional High | Ware Junior/Senior High School | Bartlett High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5 |
14.3Highest |
11.1Lowest |
11.6 |
| 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.