Compare towns
Athol vs Webster vs Warren vs Gardner
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Athol has the most kids (25.2% under 18).
Webster has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
Warren has the most homeowners (64.5%).
Gardner has the most people working from home (13.3%).
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 | Athol | Webster | Warren | Gardner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,801 |
17,748 |
5,009Lowest |
21,148Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.7% MA: +7.4% |
+6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+5.2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 36.8±3.3Lowest 8% below MA |
39.9±2.9 about the MA average |
38.7±7.3 3% below MA |
43.7±2.3Highest 9% above MA |
| Gardner and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 25.2%±4.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±2.9 MA: 19.4% |
20.8%±8 MA: 19.4% |
18.3%±2.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Athol and Warren are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 15%±2.2 MA: 17.9% |
19.6%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
14.6%±4.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.6%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
25.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
23.2% MA: 47.3% |
23.8% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
5.8%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±2.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
| Webster and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $67,394±$8k 35% below MA |
$72,895±$6kHighest 30% below MA |
$66,082±$6kLowest 36% below MA |
$67,518±$8k 35% below MA |
| Webster and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $248,700±$15kLowest 56% below MA |
$361,500±$12kHighest 36% below MA |
$333,700±$35k 41% below MA |
$301,600±$20k 46% below MA |
| Webster and Warren are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,120±$173 36% below MA |
$1,228±$81Highest 30% below MA |
$890±$174Lowest 49% below MA |
$1,109±$51 37% below MA |
| Webster and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,170Lowest 47% below MA |
$3,999 33% below MA |
$4,530Highest 24% below MA |
$4,150 31% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.2%±17.9Highest MA: 51.8% |
45.7%±6.7 MA: 51.8% |
29.7%±18.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
49.7%±8.6 MA: 51.8% |
| Athol and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 21%Highest MA: 10% |
12.7% MA: 10% |
9%Lowest MA: 10% |
13.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 63.7% MA: 62.5% |
59.8% MA: 62.5% |
64.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
58.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1940Lowest 24 yrs older than MA |
1962 2 yrs older than MA |
1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA |
1954 10 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest 10% below MA |
31 min 5% above MA |
33 minHighest 13% above MA |
31 min 5% above MA |
| Work from home | 9.7%±3.9 MA: 18.6% |
8%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
8.5%±5.4 MA: 18.6% |
13.3%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Gardner and Athol 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 | #256 of 282 in MA | #271 of 282 in MA | #165 of 282 in MA | #273 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Webster | Quaboag Regional | Gardner |
| High school in town | — | Bartlett High School | Quaboag Regional High | Gardner High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.6 |
10.0Lowest |
13.5Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.