Compare towns
Webster vs Brookline vs Gardner vs Dudley
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Webster has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
Brookline has the most people working from home (20.6%).
Gardner has the most renters (41.1% rent).
Dudley has the most expensive homes ($393k 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 | Brookline | Gardner | Dudley |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,748 |
531Lowest |
21,148Highest |
11,929 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.9±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
45.1±2.7Highest 16% above U.S. |
43.7±2.3 12% above U.S. |
40.2±2.4 3% above U.S. |
| Brookline and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
20%±6 U.S.: 22% |
18.3%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.6%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Dudley and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.6%±2.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.6%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.6%±2.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.9%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 25.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
41.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
23.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
24.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.2%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
13.1%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $72,895±$6k 10% below U.S. |
$80,833±$16k about the U.S. average |
$67,518±$8kLowest 16% below U.S. |
$84,604±$12kHighest 5% above U.S. |
| Dudley and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $361,500±$12k 9% above U.S. |
$290,700±$37kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$301,600±$20k 9% below U.S. |
$392,600±$19kHighest 18% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,228±$81 13% below U.S. |
$1,732±$232Highest 23% above U.S. |
$1,109±$51Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,217±$182 14% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,999 28% above U.S. |
$5,000Highest 60% above U.S. |
$4,150 33% above U.S. |
$3,691Lowest 18% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.7%±6.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.8%±94.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
49.7%±8.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.4%±4.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Gardner and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 12.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
13.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
58.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1954Lowest 26 yrs older than U.S. |
1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 16% above U.S. |
28 min 8% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 16% above U.S. |
27 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 8%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.1%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Brookline 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 | — | #273 of 282 in MA | #142 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Webster | — | Gardner | Dudley-Charlton Reg |
| High school in town | Bartlett High School | — | Gardner High | Shepherd Hill Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6Lowest |
— | 13.5 |
14.3Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.