Compare towns
Gardner vs Athol vs Webster vs Easthampton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Athol has the most homeowners (72.4%).
Webster has the youngest population (median age 39.9).
Easthampton has the most people working from home (19%).
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 | Gardner | Athol | Webster | Easthampton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 21,148Highest |
12,011Lowest |
17,748 |
16,086 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.2% MA: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 43.7±2.3 9% above MA |
41.3±1.9 3% above MA |
39.9±2.9Lowest about the MA average |
46±2.6Highest 15% above MA |
| Easthampton and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.3%±2.3 MA: 19.4% |
21.8%±3.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±2.9 MA: 19.4% |
15.5%±2.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Athol and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.6%±2.2 MA: 17.9% |
19.3%±2.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.6%±2.5 MA: 17.9% |
23.9%±3Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Easthampton and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 23.8% MA: 47.3% |
20.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
25.3% MA: 47.3% |
38%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
3.6%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.8%±1.6 MA: 7.9% |
6.1%±1.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Easthampton and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $67,518±$8kLowest 35% below MA |
$69,316±$5k 33% below MA |
$72,895±$6kHighest 30% below MA |
$71,673±$7k 31% below MA |
| Webster and Easthampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $301,600±$20k 46% below MA |
$268,100±$13kLowest 52% below MA |
$361,500±$12k 36% below MA |
$371,500±$15kHighest 34% below MA |
| Easthampton and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,109±$51Lowest 37% below MA |
$1,150±$182 35% below MA |
$1,228±$81 30% below MA |
$1,292±$70Highest 27% below MA |
| Easthampton and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,150 31% below MA |
$3,403Lowest 43% below MA |
$3,999 33% below MA |
$4,932Highest 18% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.7%±8.6 MA: 51.8% |
57.5%±17.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
45.7%±6.7 MA: 51.8% |
45.5%±10.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Athol and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 13.7% MA: 10% |
16.3%Highest MA: 10% |
12.7% MA: 10% |
8%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.9% MA: 62.5% |
72.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
59.8% MA: 62.5% |
58.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1954 10 yrs older than MA |
1953Lowest 11 yrs older than MA |
1962 2 yrs older than MA |
1966Highest 2 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 5% above MA |
27 min 8% below MA |
31 minHighest 5% above MA |
22 minLowest 23% below MA |
| Work from home | 13.3%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
10.6%±3.3 MA: 18.6% |
8%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
19%±3.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Easthampton 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 | #256 of 282 in MA | #271 of 282 in MA | #92 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Gardner | Athol-Royalston | Webster | Easthampton |
| High school in town | Gardner High | Athol High | Bartlett High School | Easthampton High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
11.6 |
11.6 |
9.8Lowest |
| 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.