Compare towns
Webster vs Thompson 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).
Thompson has the oldest population (median age 54.1).
Gardner has the most people working from home (13.3%).
Dudley has the shortest commute (27 min average).
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 | Thompson | Gardner | Dudley |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,748 |
9,337Lowest |
21,148Highest |
11,929 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%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 |
54.1±2.2Highest 39% 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% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest 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% |
24.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.6%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.9%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Thompson 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
21.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
23.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
24.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.3Lowest 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. |
$93,629±$18kHighest 16% above U.S. |
$67,518±$8kLowest 16% below U.S. |
$84,604±$12k 5% above U.S. |
| Thompson 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. |
$291,900±$24kLowest 12% below U.S. |
$301,600±$20k 9% below U.S. |
$392,600±$19kHighest 18% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,228±$81Highest 13% below U.S. |
$1,012±$344Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,109±$51 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. |
$3,822 23% above U.S. |
$4,150Highest 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% |
54%±18.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
49.7%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
47.4%±4.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Thompson 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% |
5.9%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% |
84.3%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. |
1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1954Lowest 26 yrs older than U.S. |
1967Highest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 16% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
31 min 16% above U.S. |
27 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 8%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.1%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Gardner and Thompson 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 | #130 of 149 in CT | #273 of 282 in MA | #142 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Webster | Thompson School District | Gardner | Dudley-Charlton Reg |
| High school in town | Bartlett High School | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | Gardner High | Shepherd Hill Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6 |
7.9Lowest |
13.5 |
14.3Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.