Compare towns
Webster vs Townsend vs Dudley vs Gardner
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%).
Townsend has the highest household income ($122k).
Dudley has the shortest commute (27 min average).
Gardner has the most people working from home (13.3%).
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 | Townsend | Dudley | Gardner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 12,228 |
9,100Lowest |
11,929 |
21,148Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.7% MA: +7.4% |
+5.2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.2±2.1Lowest 7% below MA |
40.9±3.3 about the MA average |
40.2±2.4 about the MA average |
43.7±2.3Highest 9% above MA |
| Gardner and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.8%±3.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
21%±3.2 MA: 19.4% |
20.6%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
18.3%±2.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Webster and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 15.7%±2.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
17.1%±2.1 MA: 17.9% |
16.9%±3 MA: 17.9% |
19.6%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Gardner and Townsend 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% |
35.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
24.1% MA: 47.3% |
23.8% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.4 MA: 7.9% |
13.1%±2Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $63,837±$8kLowest 39% below MA |
$121,528±$23kHighest 17% above MA |
$84,604±$12k 19% below MA |
$67,518±$8k 35% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $333,100±$14k 41% below MA |
$433,200±$22kHighest 23% below MA |
$392,600±$19k 30% below MA |
$301,600±$20kLowest 46% below MA |
| Townsend and Dudley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,198±$85 32% below MA |
$1,469±$313Highest 17% below MA |
$1,217±$182 31% below MA |
$1,109±$51Lowest 37% below MA |
| Townsend and Dudley 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 |
$6,031Highest about the MA average |
$3,691 38% below MA |
$4,150 31% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.1%±7.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
50.6%±16.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
47.4%±4.1 MA: 51.8% |
49.7%±8.6 MA: 51.8% |
| Townsend and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 16%Highest MA: 10% |
8.9% MA: 10% |
6.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
13.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 45.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
82%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.1% MA: 62.5% |
58.9% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1954Lowest 10 yrs older than MA |
1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
1954Lowest 10 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% below MA |
37 minHighest 27% above MA |
27 minLowest 6% below MA |
31 min 5% above MA |
| Work from home | 7.1%±2.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2.8 MA: 18.6% |
9.1%±2.5 MA: 18.6% |
13.3%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Gardner and Townsend 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 | #136 of 282 in MA | #142 of 282 in MA | #273 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | North Middlesex | Dudley-Charlton Reg | Gardner |
| High school in town | — | North Middlesex Regional | Shepherd Hill Regional High | Gardner High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.1Lowest |
14.3Highest |
13.5 |
| 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.