Compare towns
Boylston vs Gardner vs Webster vs Rowley
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Boylston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.3%).
Gardner has the most affordable homes ($302k median).
Webster has the youngest population (median age 39.9).
Rowley has the most expensive homes ($667k 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 | Boylston | Gardner | Webster | Rowley |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,948Lowest |
21,148Highest |
17,748 |
6,251 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+5.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6% MA: +7.4% |
+5.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.2±2.3 21% above MA |
43.7±2.3 9% above MA |
39.9±2.9Lowest about the MA average |
50±6.3Highest 25% above MA |
| Rowley and Boylston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18%±3.6Lowest MA: 19.4% |
18.3%±2.3 MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±2.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.3%±4.5 MA: 19.4% |
| Webster and Rowley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22%±4.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.6%±2.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.6%±2.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.6%±4.1 MA: 17.9% |
| Boylston and Rowley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.9% MA: 47.3% |
23.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
25.3% MA: 47.3% |
56.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
5.8%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.8%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
| Webster and Rowley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $140,962±$28kHighest 36% above MA |
$67,518±$8kLowest 35% below MA |
$72,895±$6k 30% below MA |
$132,734±$32k 28% above MA |
| Boylston and Rowley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $578,600±$47k about the MA average |
$301,600±$20kLowest 46% below MA |
$361,500±$12k 36% below MA |
$667,300±$52kHighest 19% above MA |
| Rowley and Boylston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,032±$350Highest 15% above MA |
$1,109±$51Lowest 37% below MA |
$1,228±$81 30% below MA |
$1,603±$520 9% below MA |
| Boylston and Rowley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,266 21% above MA |
$4,150 31% below MA |
$3,999Lowest 33% below MA |
$8,309Highest 39% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±16.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
49.7%±8.6 MA: 51.8% |
45.7%±6.7 MA: 51.8% |
57.7%±27.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Rowley and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.4% MA: 10% |
13.7%Highest MA: 10% |
12.7% MA: 10% |
3.1%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.2% MA: 62.5% |
58.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
59.8% MA: 62.5% |
81.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
1954Lowest 10 yrs older than MA |
1962 2 yrs older than MA |
1975 11 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 8% below MA |
31 minHighest 5% above MA |
31 minHighest 5% above MA |
28 min 3% below MA |
| Work from home | 22.7%±5.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
13.3%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
8%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
11.1%±4 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #72 of 282 in MA | #273 of 282 in MA | #271 of 282 in MA | #214 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Berlin-Boylston | Gardner | Webster | Triton |
| High school in town | Tahanto Regional High | Gardner High | Bartlett High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Lowest |
13.5Highest |
11.6 |
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| 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.