Compare towns
Webster vs Dunbarton vs Dudley vs Gardner
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 the youngest population (median age 39.9).
Dunbarton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9%).
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 | Dunbarton | Dudley | Gardner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,748 |
3,097Lowest |
11,929 |
21,148Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.9±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
48±3.7Highest 23% above U.S. |
40.2±2.4 3% above U.S. |
43.7±2.3 12% above U.S. |
| Dunbarton 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% |
19.8%±3.8 U.S.: 22% |
20.6%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.3%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Dudley and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.6%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.9%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.6%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dunbarton and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 25.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
24.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
23.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
13.1%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $72,895±$6k 10% below U.S. |
$124,348±$21kHighest 54% above U.S. |
$84,604±$12k 5% above U.S. |
$67,518±$8kLowest 16% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $361,500±$12k 9% above U.S. |
$484,100±$33kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$392,600±$19k 18% above U.S. |
$301,600±$20kLowest 9% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,228±$81Highest 13% below U.S. |
$1,166±$70 17% below U.S. |
$1,217±$182 14% below U.S. |
$1,109±$51Lowest 22% below U.S. |
| Webster and Dudley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,999 28% above U.S. |
$8,233Highest 164% above U.S. |
$3,691Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$4,150 33% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.7%±6.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.7%±60.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.4%±4.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
49.7%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dunbarton and Gardner 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% |
3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
13.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
58.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1990Highest 10 yrs newer than U.S. |
1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1954Lowest 26 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 16% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
27 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
31 min 16% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 8%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.6%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.1%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Gardner and Dunbarton 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 | #33 of 120 in NH | #142 of 282 in MA | #273 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Webster | Dunbarton School District | Dudley-Charlton Reg | Gardner |
| High school in town | Bartlett High School | None in town | Shepherd Hill Regional High | Gardner High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6Lowest |
— | 14.3Highest |
13.5 |
| 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.