Compare towns
Gardner vs Dudley vs Webster vs Templeton
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 affordable homes ($302k median).
Dudley has the most expensive homes ($393k median).
Webster has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
Templeton has the most people working from home (16.9%).
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 | Webster | Templeton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 21,148Highest |
11,929 |
17,748 |
8,252Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.2% MA: +7.4% |
+4.7% MA: +7.4% |
+6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+1.7%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±2.3Highest 9% above MA |
40.2±2.4 about the MA average |
39.9±2.9Lowest about the MA average |
40.3±5.1 about the MA average |
| Gardner and Templeton 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%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±2.9 MA: 19.4% |
22.9%±5.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Templeton and Dudley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.6%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.9%±3 MA: 17.9% |
19.6%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
14.7%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 23.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
24.1% MA: 47.3% |
25.3% MA: 47.3% |
26.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
13.1%±2Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.8%±1.6 MA: 7.9% |
3.4%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $67,518±$8kLowest 35% below MA |
$84,604±$12k 19% below MA |
$72,895±$6k 30% below MA |
$101,154±$15kHighest about the MA average |
| Templeton and Dudley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $301,600±$20kLowest 46% below MA |
$392,600±$19kHighest 30% below MA |
$361,500±$12k 36% below MA |
$358,500±$12k 36% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,109±$51Lowest 37% below MA |
$1,217±$182 31% below MA |
$1,228±$81Highest 30% below MA |
$1,207±$353 31% 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 |
$3,999 33% below MA |
$4,554Highest 24% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.7%±8.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
47.4%±4.1 MA: 51.8% |
45.7%±6.7 MA: 51.8% |
44.7%±26.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Gardner and Dudley 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% |
12.7% MA: 10% |
10.6% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
73.1% MA: 62.5% |
59.8% MA: 62.5% |
85.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1954Lowest 10 yrs older than MA |
1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
1962 2 yrs older than MA |
1972Highest 8 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 5% above MA |
27 minLowest 6% below MA |
31 minHighest 5% above MA |
28 min 5% below MA |
| Work from home | 13.3%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
9.1%±2.5 MA: 18.6% |
8%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
16.9%±5.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Templeton and Gardner 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 | #271 of 282 in MA | #244 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Gardner | Dudley-Charlton Reg | Webster | Narragansett |
| High school in town | Gardner High | Shepherd Hill Regional High | Bartlett High School | Narragansett Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5 |
14.3Highest |
11.6Lowest |
12.2 |
| 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.