Compare towns
Webster vs Lawrence 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
Lawrence has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.7%).
Dudley has the most homeowners (73.1%).
Gardner has the most people working from home (13.3%).
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 | Lawrence | Dudley | Gardner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,748 |
88,736Highest |
11,929Lowest |
21,148 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% MA: +7.4% |
+16.7%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 |
32.6±0.9Lowest 19% below MA |
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% |
26.3%±1.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.6%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
18.3%±2.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 19.6%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
10.5%±0.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
16.9%±3 MA: 17.9% |
19.6%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 25.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
16.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
24.1% MA: 47.3% |
23.8% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±1.6 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±0.8 MA: 7.9% |
13.1%±2Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $72,895±$6k 30% below MA |
$60,433±$3kLowest 42% below MA |
$84,604±$12kHighest 19% below MA |
$67,518±$8k 35% below MA |
| Dudley and Webster 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 |
$415,200±$23kHighest 26% below MA |
$392,600±$19k 30% below MA |
$301,600±$20kLowest 46% below MA |
| Lawrence and Dudley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,228±$81 30% below MA |
$1,662±$50Highest 6% below MA |
$1,217±$182 31% below MA |
$1,109±$51Lowest 37% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,999 33% below MA |
$3,422Lowest 43% below MA |
$3,691 38% below MA |
$4,150Highest 31% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.7%±6.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
60.6%±3.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
47.4%±4.1 MA: 51.8% |
49.7%±8.6 MA: 51.8% |
| Lawrence and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 12.7% MA: 10% |
17.6%Highest MA: 10% |
6.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
13.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.8% MA: 62.5% |
28.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
73.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
58.9% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962 2 yrs older than MA |
1950Lowest 14 yrs older than MA |
1967Highest 3 yrs newer than MA |
1954 10 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 5% above MA |
23 minLowest 21% below MA |
27 min 6% below MA |
31 minHighest 5% above MA |
| Work from home | 8%±2.5 MA: 18.6% |
6.8%±1.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
9.1%±2.5 MA: 18.6% |
13.3%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Gardner and Dudley 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 | #278 of 282 in MA | #142 of 282 in MA | #273 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Webster | Lawrence | Dudley-Charlton Reg | Gardner |
| High school in town | Bartlett High School | Lawrence High School | Shepherd Hill Regional High | Gardner High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6Lowest |
13.6 |
14.3Highest |
13.5 |
| 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.