Compare towns
Webster vs Ogunquit 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 the youngest population (median age 39.9).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Gardner has the most affordable homes ($302k median).
Dudley has the most kids (20.6% under 18).
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 | Ogunquit | Gardner | Dudley |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,748 |
1,379Lowest |
21,148Highest |
11,929 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.9±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
43.7±2.3 12% above U.S. |
40.2±2.4 3% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.3%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
20.6%±3.3Highest 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% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.6%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.9%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 25.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5%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% |
4.2%±2.8Lowest 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. |
$114,259±$56kHighest 42% above U.S. |
$67,518±$8kLowest 16% below U.S. |
$84,604±$12k 5% above U.S. |
| Ogunquit 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 9% above U.S. |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
$301,600±$20kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$392,600±$19k 18% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,228±$81Highest 13% below U.S. |
— | $1,109±$51Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,217±$182 14% 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. |
$4,473Highest 43% above U.S. |
$4,150 33% above U.S. |
$3,691Lowest 18% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.7%±6.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
49.7%±8.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.4%±4.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%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% |
94.3%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. |
1978Highest 2 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. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
31 minHighest 16% above U.S. |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 8%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.1%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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.