Compare towns
Webster vs Woonsocket 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
Woonsocket has the most renters (62.8% rent).
Gardner has the most people working from home (13.3%).
Dudley has the most homeowners (73.1%).
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 | Woonsocket | Gardner | Dudley |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,748 |
43,521Highest |
21,148 |
11,929Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.9±2.9 about the U.S. average |
35.7±1.3Lowest 8% below U.S. |
43.7±2.3Highest 12% above U.S. |
40.2±2.4 3% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
23.3%±2Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.3%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Woonsocket and Dudley 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% |
14.7%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.6%±2.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.9%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 25.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
19.8%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% |
5.1%±0.9 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. |
$61,059±$5kLowest 24% below U.S. |
$67,518±$8k 16% below U.S. |
$84,604±$12kHighest 5% above U.S. |
| 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 9% above U.S. |
$311,000±$15k 7% below U.S. |
$301,600±$20kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$392,600±$19kHighest 18% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,228±$81Highest 13% below U.S. |
$1,161±$48 18% 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. |
$3,960 27% 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% |
46.7%±5.4 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% |
18.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
13.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
37.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
58.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1952Lowest 28 yrs older than U.S. |
1954 26 yrs older than U.S. |
1967Highest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 16% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 16% above U.S. |
27 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 8%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.4%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.1%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #37 of 38 in RI | #273 of 282 in MA | #142 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Webster | RISE Prep Mayoral Academy · Woonsocket | Gardner | Dudley-Charlton Reg |
| High school in town | Bartlett High School | Woonsocket High School | Gardner High | Shepherd Hill Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6Lowest |
15.2Highest |
13.5 |
14.3 |
| 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.