Compare towns
Webster vs Exeter 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).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Dudley has the most homeowners (73.1%).
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 | Exeter | Dudley | Gardner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,748 |
16,151 |
11,929Lowest |
21,148Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%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 |
45.8±2.3Highest 18% above U.S. |
40.2±2.4 3% above U.S. |
43.7±2.3 12% above U.S. |
| Exeter 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% |
17%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.6%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.3%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Dudley and Webster 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% |
24.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.9%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.6%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Exeter 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% |
59.2%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% |
6.1%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
13.1%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $72,895±$6k 10% below U.S. |
$110,346±$13kHighest 37% 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. |
$456,600±$21kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$392,600±$19k 18% above U.S. |
$301,600±$20kLowest 9% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,228±$81 13% below U.S. |
$1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S. |
$1,217±$182 14% below U.S. |
$1,109±$51Lowest 22% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,999 28% above U.S. |
$8,814Highest 183% 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% |
59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.4%±4.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
49.7%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter 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% |
4.7%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% |
69.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
58.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1954Lowest 26 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 16% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 16% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 8%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.1%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Exeter 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 | #22 of 120 in NH | #142 of 282 in MA | #273 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Webster | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Dudley-Charlton Reg | Gardner |
| High school in town | Bartlett High School | Exeter High School | Shepherd Hill Regional High | Gardner High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6Lowest |
12.1 |
14.3Highest |
13.5 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 59 photos → | 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.