Compare towns
Gardner vs Brookfield vs Webster vs Ashburnham
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).
Brookfield has the oldest population (median age 52.4).
Webster has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
Ashburnham has the highest household income ($119k).
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 | Brookfield | Webster | Ashburnham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 21,148Highest |
3,460Lowest |
17,748 |
6,415 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.2% MA: +7.4% |
+1.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.8% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±2.3 9% above MA |
52.4±2.1Highest 31% above MA |
39.9±2.9Lowest about the MA average |
40.7±6.3 about the MA average |
| Kids under 18 | 18.3%±2.3 MA: 19.4% |
13.4%±4.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±2.9 MA: 19.4% |
22.6%±6Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Ashburnham 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% |
28.4%±5.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.6%±2.5 MA: 17.9% |
18.1%±4.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 23.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
28.9% MA: 47.3% |
25.3% MA: 47.3% |
44%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.2%±3.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.8%±1.6 MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±2.2 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 | $67,518±$8kLowest 35% below MA |
$81,250±$37k 22% below MA |
$72,895±$6k 30% below MA |
$118,809±$11kHighest 14% above MA |
| Ashburnham and Brookfield 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 |
$341,900±$23k 39% below MA |
$361,500±$12k 36% below MA |
$390,700±$34kHighest 30% below MA |
| Ashburnham and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,109±$51 37% below MA |
$1,014±$161Lowest 42% below MA |
$1,228±$81 30% below MA |
$1,807±$1kHighest about the MA average |
| Ashburnham 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 |
$5,092 15% below MA |
$3,999Lowest 33% below MA |
$6,046Highest about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.7%±8.6 MA: 51.8% |
50.7%±11.7 MA: 51.8% |
45.7%±6.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Ashburnham and Brookfield 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% |
8.9% MA: 10% |
12.7% MA: 10% |
6.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
87.5% MA: 62.5% |
59.8% MA: 62.5% |
96%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1954Lowest 10 yrs older than MA |
1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA |
1962 2 yrs older than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minLowest 5% above MA |
32 minHighest 11% above MA |
31 minLowest 5% above MA |
32 min 10% above MA |
| Work from home | 13.3%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
12%±5.5 MA: 18.6% |
8%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
16%±7.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Ashburnham 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 | #109 of 282 in MA | #271 of 282 in MA | #178 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Gardner | Brookfield | Webster | Ashburnham-Westminster |
| High school in town | Gardner High | None in town | 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.