Compare towns
Coventry vs Gardner vs Webster vs Columbia
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Coventry has the shortest commute (27 min average).
Gardner has the most affordable homes ($302k median).
Webster has the youngest population (median age 39.9).
Columbia has the most people working from home (21.6%).
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 | Coventry | Gardner | Webster | Columbia |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 12,326 |
21,148Highest |
17,748 |
5,300Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +5.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 45.4±3.8 17% above U.S. |
43.7±2.3 12% above U.S. |
39.9±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
51.3±10.3Highest 32% above U.S. |
| Columbia and Coventry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.9%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.3%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
13.7%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Coventry and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.2%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.6%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.6%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.9%±5.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Columbia and Coventry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
23.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
25.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Webster and Columbia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $108,213±$5k 34% above U.S. |
$67,518±$8kLowest 16% below U.S. |
$72,895±$6k 10% below U.S. |
$127,000±$30kHighest 57% above U.S. |
| Columbia and Coventry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $330,000±$23k about the U.S. average |
$301,600±$20kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$361,500±$12kHighest 9% above U.S. |
$361,500±$16kHighest 9% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,232±$330Highest 13% below U.S. |
$1,109±$51 22% below U.S. |
$1,228±$81 13% below U.S. |
$966±$304Lowest 32% below U.S. |
| Coventry and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,284Highest 69% above U.S. |
$4,150 33% above U.S. |
$3,999Lowest 28% above U.S. |
$5,228 68% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.7%±23.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
49.7%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
45.7%±6.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
17.6%±16.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Coventry and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
13.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
58.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966 14 yrs older than U.S. |
1954Lowest 26 yrs older than U.S. |
1962 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
31 min 16% above U.S. |
31 min 16% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 21% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.6%±4.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
8%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.6%±6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Columbia and Coventry 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 | #41 of 149 in CT | #273 of 282 in MA | #271 of 282 in MA | #114 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Coventry School District | Gardner | Webster | Columbia School District |
| High school in town | Coventry High School | Gardner High | Bartlett High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.9Lowest |
13.5Highest |
11.6 |
— |
| 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.