Compare towns
Webster vs Ayer 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
Ayer has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).
Dudley has the shortest commute (27 min average).
Gardner has the most affordable homes ($302k median).
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 | Ayer | Dudley | Gardner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,748 |
8,645Lowest |
11,929 |
21,148Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% MA: +7.4% |
+14.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.7%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+5.2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.9±2.9 about the MA average |
39.2±2.8Lowest about the MA average |
40.2±2.4 about the MA average |
43.7±2.3Highest 9% above MA |
| Gardner and Dudley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±2.9 MA: 19.4% |
20.3%±3.9 MA: 19.4% |
20.6%±3.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.3%±2.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Dudley and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.6%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
14.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
16.9%±3 MA: 17.9% |
19.6%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 25.3% MA: 47.3% |
42.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
24.1% MA: 47.3% |
23.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±1.6 MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
13.1%±2Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $72,895±$6k 30% below MA |
$101,875±$15kHighest about the MA average |
$84,604±$12k 19% below MA |
$67,518±$8kLowest 35% below MA |
| Ayer and Dudley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $361,500±$12k 36% below MA |
$463,800±$29kHighest 17% below MA |
$392,600±$19k 30% below MA |
$301,600±$20kLowest 46% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,228±$81 30% below MA |
$1,415±$180Highest 20% below MA |
$1,217±$182 31% below MA |
$1,109±$51Lowest 37% below MA |
| Ayer and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,999 33% below MA |
$5,057Highest 16% below MA |
$3,691Lowest 38% below MA |
$4,150 31% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.7%±6.7 MA: 51.8% |
45.1%±14.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
47.4%±4.1 MA: 51.8% |
49.7%±8.6Highest 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 | 12.7% MA: 10% |
10.7% MA: 10% |
6.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
13.7%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.8% MA: 62.5% |
69.2% MA: 62.5% |
73.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
58.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962 2 yrs older than MA |
1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
1954Lowest 10 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 5% above MA |
33 minHighest 13% above MA |
27 minLowest 6% below MA |
31 min 5% above MA |
| Work from home | 8%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±5.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
9.1%±2.5 MA: 18.6% |
13.3%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
| Ayer 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 | #271 of 282 in MA | #113 of 282 in MA | #142 of 282 in MA | #273 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Webster | Ayer Shirley School District | Dudley-Charlton Reg | Gardner |
| High school in town | Bartlett High School | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | Shepherd Hill Regional High | Gardner High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6 |
11.5Lowest |
14.3Highest |
13.5 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 12 photos → | 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.