Compare towns
Webster vs Worcester 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 the most kids (21.8% under 18).
Worcester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.1%).
Gardner has the most people working from home (13.3%).
Dudley has the most homeowners (73.1%).
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 | Webster | Worcester | Gardner | Dudley |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 12,228 |
207,055Highest |
21,148 |
11,929Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.9% MA: +7.4% |
+14.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+5.2% MA: +7.4% |
+4.7%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.2±2.1 7% below MA |
33.9±0.5Lowest 15% 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%±3.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±0.8 MA: 19.4% |
18.3%±2.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.6%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
| Webster and Dudley 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% |
13.3%±0.6Lowest 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% |
35.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
23.8% MA: 47.3% |
24.1% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
14.1%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
13.1%±2 MA: 7.9% |
| Worcester and Dudley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $63,837±$8kLowest 39% below MA |
$70,102±$2k 33% below MA |
$67,518±$8k 35% below MA |
$84,604±$12kHighest 19% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $333,100±$14k 41% below MA |
$374,400±$7k 33% below MA |
$301,600±$20kLowest 46% below MA |
$392,600±$19kHighest 30% below MA |
| Dudley and Worcester 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 |
$1,487±$38Highest 16% below MA |
$1,109±$51Lowest 37% below MA |
$1,217±$182 31% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,234Lowest 46% below MA |
$4,733Highest 21% below MA |
$4,150 31% below MA |
$3,691 38% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.1%±7.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
54.2%±2.9Highest MA: 51.8% |
49.7%±8.6 MA: 51.8% |
47.4%±4.1 MA: 51.8% |
| Worcester 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% |
19.6%Highest MA: 10% |
13.7% MA: 10% |
6.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 45.5% MA: 62.5% |
42.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
58.9% MA: 62.5% |
73.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1954 10 yrs older than MA |
1951Lowest 13 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 |
24 minLowest 17% below MA |
31 minHighest 5% above MA |
27 min 6% below MA |
| Work from home | 7.1%±2.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
11.5%±1 MA: 18.6% |
13.3%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
9.1%±2.5 MA: 18.6% |
| Gardner and Worcester 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 | #266 of 282 in MA | #273 of 282 in MA | #142 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester | Gardner | Dudley-Charlton Reg |
| High school in town | — | South High Community | Gardner High | Shepherd Hill Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.6Highest |
13.5Lowest |
14.3 |
| 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.