Compare towns
Webster vs Springfield vs Gardner 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 (+6.9%).
Springfield has the shortest commute (20 min average).
Gardner has the most people working from home (13.3%).
Dudley has the highest household income ($85k).
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 | Springfield | Gardner | Dudley |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 12,228 |
154,749Highest |
21,148 |
11,929Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+1.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+5.2% MA: +7.4% |
+4.7% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.2±2.1 7% below MA |
33.7±0.5Lowest 16% below MA |
43.7±2.3Highest 9% above MA |
40.2±2.4 about the MA average |
| Gardner and Dudley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.8%±3.6 MA: 19.4% |
24.2%±0.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.3%±2.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.6%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
| Springfield and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 15.7%±2.5 MA: 17.9% |
13.2%±0.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.6%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.9%±3 MA: 17.9% |
| Gardner and Dudley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 18.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
20.5% MA: 47.3% |
23.8% MA: 47.3% |
24.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
7.5%±0.5 MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
13.1%±2Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $63,837±$8k 39% below MA |
$52,656±$2kLowest 49% below MA |
$67,518±$8k 35% below MA |
$84,604±$12kHighest 19% below MA |
| Dudley and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $333,100±$14k 41% below MA |
$245,000±$4kLowest 56% below MA |
$301,600±$20k 46% below MA |
$392,600±$19kHighest 30% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,198±$85 32% below MA |
$1,144±$55 35% below MA |
$1,109±$51Lowest 37% below MA |
$1,217±$182Highest 31% below MA |
| Dudley and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,234Lowest 46% below MA |
$3,695 38% below MA |
$4,150Highest 31% below MA |
$3,691 38% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.1%±7.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
57.7%±3.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
49.7%±8.6 MA: 51.8% |
47.4%±4.1 MA: 51.8% |
| Springfield and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 16% MA: 10% |
25.8%Highest MA: 10% |
13.7% MA: 10% |
6.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 45.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
49.6% MA: 62.5% |
58.9% MA: 62.5% |
73.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1954 10 yrs older than MA |
1952Lowest 12 yrs older than MA |
1954 10 yrs older than MA |
1967Highest 3 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% below MA |
20 minLowest 31% below MA |
31 minHighest 5% above MA |
27 min 6% below MA |
| Work from home | 7.1%±2.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
8.4%±0.9 MA: 18.6% |
13.3%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
9.1%±2.5 MA: 18.6% |
| Gardner and Dudley 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 | #271 of 282 in MA | #276 of 282 in MA | #273 of 282 in MA | #142 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Springfield | Gardner | Dudley-Charlton Reg |
| High school in town | — | Springfield Central High | Gardner High | Shepherd Hill Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.2Lowest |
13.5 |
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.