Compare towns
Webster vs Saco 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).
Saco has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.3%).
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 | Saco | Gardner | Dudley |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,748 |
20,819 |
21,148Highest |
11,929Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.3%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 |
44.9±1.5Highest 15% above U.S. |
43.7±2.3 12% above U.S. |
40.2±2.4 3% above U.S. |
| Saco 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% |
16.7%±2.5Lowest 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%±2.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±2.1 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% |
43.5%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% |
5.2%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
13.1%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $72,895±$6k 10% below U.S. |
$92,241±$11kHighest 14% above U.S. |
$67,518±$8kLowest 16% below U.S. |
$84,604±$12k 5% above U.S. |
| Saco 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. |
$413,100±$17kHighest 24% above U.S. |
$301,600±$20kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$392,600±$19k 18% above U.S. |
| Saco 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 13% below U.S. |
$1,249±$385Highest 12% below U.S. |
$1,109±$51Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,217±$182 14% below U.S. |
| Saco and Webster 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. |
$4,807Highest 54% 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% |
50.3%±14Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
49.7%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
47.4%±4.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Saco 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% |
6.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
13.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
58.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer 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. |
24 minLowest 10% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 16% above U.S. |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 8%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.1%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Saco 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 | #38 of 133 in ME | #273 of 282 in MA | #142 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Webster | Saco Public Schools | Gardner | Dudley-Charlton Reg |
| High school in town | Bartlett High School | None in town | 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.