Compare towns
Brookfield vs Gardner vs Webster vs Hampden
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brookfield has the oldest population (median age 52.4).
Gardner has the most affordable homes ($302k median).
Webster has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
Hampden has the highest household income ($105k).
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 | Brookfield | Gardner | Webster | Hampden |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,460Lowest |
21,148Highest |
17,748 |
4,946 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.4% MA: +7.4% |
+5.2% MA: +7.4% |
+6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-3.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52.4±2.1Highest 31% above MA |
43.7±2.3 9% above MA |
39.9±2.9Lowest about the MA average |
50.9±3.3 27% above MA |
| Brookfield and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 13.4%±4.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
18.3%±2.3 MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±2.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
14%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
| Webster and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 28.4%±5.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.6%±2.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.6%±2.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
26.8%±5.1 MA: 17.9% |
| Brookfield and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.9% MA: 47.3% |
23.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
25.3% MA: 47.3% |
36.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±3.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.8%±1.6 MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Brookfield and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $81,250±$37k 22% below MA |
$67,518±$8kLowest 35% below MA |
$72,895±$6k 30% below MA |
$104,536±$16kHighest about the MA average |
| Hampden and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $341,900±$23k 39% below MA |
$301,600±$20kLowest 46% below MA |
$361,500±$12kHighest 36% below MA |
$358,200±$16k 36% below MA |
| Webster and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,014±$161Lowest 42% below MA |
$1,109±$51 37% below MA |
$1,228±$81Highest 30% below MA |
$1,132±$107 36% below MA |
| Webster and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,092 15% below MA |
$4,150 31% below MA |
$3,999Lowest 33% below MA |
$6,181Highest 3% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.7%±11.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
49.7%±8.6 MA: 51.8% |
45.7%±6.7 MA: 51.8% |
36.9%±42.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Brookfield and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.9% MA: 10% |
13.7%Highest MA: 10% |
12.7% MA: 10% |
3.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.5% MA: 62.5% |
58.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
59.8% MA: 62.5% |
94.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA |
1954Lowest 10 yrs older than MA |
1962 2 yrs older than MA |
1966 2 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 11% above MA |
31 min 5% above MA |
31 min 5% above MA |
26 minLowest 11% below MA |
| Work from home | 12%±5.5 MA: 18.6% |
13.3%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
8%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
9.9%±3.7 MA: 18.6% |
| Gardner and Brookfield 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 | #109 of 282 in MA | #273 of 282 in MA | #271 of 282 in MA | #199 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Brookfield | Gardner | Webster | Hampden-Wilbraham |
| High school in town | None in town | Gardner High | Bartlett High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.5Highest |
11.6Lowest |
— |
| 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.