Compare towns
Gardner vs Ayer vs Templeton vs Webster
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Gardner has the most affordable homes ($302k median).
Ayer has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).
Templeton has the most homeowners (85.3%).
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 | Ayer | Templeton | Webster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 21,148Highest |
8,645 |
8,252Lowest |
17,748 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.2% MA: +7.4% |
+14.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+1.7%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±2.3Highest 9% above MA |
39.2±2.8Lowest about the MA average |
40.3±5.1 about the MA average |
39.9±2.9 about the MA average |
| Gardner and Templeton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.3%±2.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.3%±3.9 MA: 19.4% |
22.9%±5.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±2.9 MA: 19.4% |
| Templeton and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.6%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
14.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
14.7%±2.8 MA: 17.9% |
19.6%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 23.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
42.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
26.9% MA: 47.3% |
25.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
3.4%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.8%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
| 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 | $67,518±$8kLowest 35% below MA |
$101,875±$15kHighest about the MA average |
$101,154±$15k about the MA average |
$72,895±$6k 30% below MA |
| Ayer and Templeton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $301,600±$20kLowest 46% below MA |
$463,800±$29kHighest 17% below MA |
$358,500±$12k 36% below MA |
$361,500±$12k 36% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,109±$51Lowest 37% below MA |
$1,415±$180Highest 20% below MA |
$1,207±$353 31% below MA |
$1,228±$81 30% below MA |
| Ayer 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 |
$5,057Highest 16% below MA |
$4,554 24% below MA |
$3,999Lowest 33% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.7%±8.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
45.1%±14.2 MA: 51.8% |
44.7%±26.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
45.7%±6.7 MA: 51.8% |
| Gardner and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 13.7%Highest MA: 10% |
10.7% MA: 10% |
10.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
12.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
69.2% MA: 62.5% |
85.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
59.8% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1954Lowest 10 yrs older than MA |
1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
1972 8 yrs newer than MA |
1962 2 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 5% above MA |
33 minHighest 13% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
31 min 5% above MA |
| Work from home | 13.3%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±5.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
16.9%±5.1 MA: 18.6% |
8%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Ayer and Templeton 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 | #113 of 282 in MA | #244 of 282 in MA | #271 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Gardner | Ayer Shirley School District | Narragansett | Webster |
| High school in town | Gardner High | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | Narragansett Regional High | Bartlett High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
11.5Lowest |
12.2 |
11.6 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 12 photos → | 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.