Compare towns
Ashburnham vs Webster vs Gardner
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ashburnham has the highest household income ($119k).
Webster has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
Gardner has the most affordable homes ($302k median).
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 | Ashburnham | Webster | Gardner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,415Lowest |
17,748 |
21,148Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+5.2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.7±6.3 about the MA average |
39.9±2.9Lowest about the MA average |
43.7±2.3Highest 9% above MA |
| Gardner and Ashburnham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.6%±6Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±2.9 MA: 19.4% |
18.3%±2.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Ashburnham and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.1%±4.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.6%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.6%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44%Highest MA: 47.3% |
25.3% MA: 47.3% |
23.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
5.8%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Webster and Ashburnham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $118,809±$11kHighest 14% above MA |
$72,895±$6k 30% below MA |
$67,518±$8kLowest 35% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $390,700±$34kHighest 30% below MA |
$361,500±$12k 36% below MA |
$301,600±$20kLowest 46% below MA |
| Ashburnham and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,807±$1kHighest about the MA average |
$1,228±$81 30% below MA |
$1,109±$51Lowest 37% below MA |
| Ashburnham and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,046Highest about the MA average |
$3,999Lowest 33% below MA |
$4,150 31% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
45.7%±6.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
49.7%±8.6 MA: 51.8% |
| Ashburnham and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
12.7% MA: 10% |
13.7%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96%Highest MA: 62.5% |
59.8% MA: 62.5% |
58.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1962 2 yrs older than MA |
1954Lowest 10 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 10% above MA |
31 minLowest 5% above MA |
31 minLowest 5% above MA |
| Work from home | 16%±7.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
8%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
13.3%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
| Ashburnham 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 | #178 of 282 in MA | #271 of 282 in MA | #273 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ashburnham-Westminster | Webster | Gardner |
| High school in town | None in town | Bartlett High School | Gardner High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.6Lowest |
13.5Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.