Compare towns
Belvidere vs Gardner vs Webster vs Brookline
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Belvidere has the most affordable homes ($239k median).
Gardner has the most renters (41.1% rent).
Webster has the most expensive homes ($362k median).
Brookline has the most people working from home (20.6%).
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 | Belvidere | Gardner | Webster | Brookline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 422Lowest |
21,148Highest |
17,748 |
531 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +5.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.7±6.5 5% above U.S. |
43.7±2.3 12% above U.S. |
39.9±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
45.1±2.7Highest 16% above U.S. |
| Brookline and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.3%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
20%±6 U.S.: 22% |
| Belvidere and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 8.8%±4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.6%±2.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.6%±2.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.6%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
23.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
25.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
41.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.2%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 | $81,563±$18kHighest about the U.S. average |
$67,518±$8kLowest 16% below U.S. |
$72,895±$6k 10% below U.S. |
$80,833±$16k about the U.S. average |
| Belvidere and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $239,200±$51kLowest 28% below U.S. |
$301,600±$20k 9% below U.S. |
$361,500±$12kHighest 9% above U.S. |
$290,700±$37k 13% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,542±$1k 9% above U.S. |
$1,109±$51Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,228±$81 13% below U.S. |
$1,732±$232Highest 23% above U.S. |
| Brookline and Belvidere are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,908Lowest 25% above U.S. |
$4,150 33% above U.S. |
$3,999 28% above U.S. |
$5,000Highest 60% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.7%±53.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
49.7%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
45.7%±6.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.8%±94.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Belvidere and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
13.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
58.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1954Lowest 26 yrs older than U.S. |
1962 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 38 minHighest 42% above U.S. |
31 min 16% above U.S. |
31 min 16% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.4%±7.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
8%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Brookline 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 | — | #273 of 282 in MA | #271 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | — | Gardner | Webster | — |
| High school in town | — | Gardner High | Bartlett High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.5Highest |
11.6Lowest |
— |
| 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.