Compare towns
Brookline vs Gardner vs Webster vs Andover
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brookline has the most affordable homes ($291k median).
Gardner has the most renters (41.1% rent).
Webster has the youngest population (median age 39.9).
Andover has the most people working from home (29.6%).
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 | Brookline | Gardner | Webster | Andover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 531Lowest |
21,148Highest |
17,748 |
616 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 45.1±2.7 16% above U.S. |
43.7±2.3 12% above U.S. |
39.9±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
49.2±5.1Highest 26% above U.S. |
| Andover and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.3%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
11.5%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Brookline and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.6%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.6%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.6%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.7%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Andover and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
23.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
25.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
43.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.5Lowest 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 | $80,833±$16k about the U.S. average |
$67,518±$8kLowest 16% below U.S. |
$72,895±$6k 10% below U.S. |
$102,500±$38kHighest 27% above U.S. |
| Andover and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $290,700±$37kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$301,600±$20k 9% below U.S. |
$361,500±$12k 9% above U.S. |
$382,900±$68kHighest 15% above U.S. |
| Andover and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,732±$232Highest 23% above U.S. |
$1,109±$51Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,228±$81 13% below U.S. |
$1,389±$364 about the U.S. average |
| Brookline and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,000 60% above U.S. |
$4,150 33% above U.S. |
$3,999Lowest 28% above U.S. |
$5,190Highest 66% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.8%±94.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
49.7%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
45.7%±6.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
69.4%±47.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Andover and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
13.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
58.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1954Lowest 26 yrs older than U.S. |
1962 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 8% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 16% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 16% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 5% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.6%±5.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
8%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
29.6%±12.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Andover and Brookline 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.