Compare towns
Gardner vs Brooklyn vs Ashburnham vs Webster
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Gardner has the most affordable homes ($302k median).
Brooklyn has the shortest commute (27 min average).
Ashburnham has the highest household income ($119k).
Webster has the youngest population (median age 39.9).
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 | Brooklyn | Ashburnham | Webster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 21,148Highest |
8,517 |
6,415Lowest |
17,748 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +3.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±2.3 12% above U.S. |
45.6±2.5Highest 17% above U.S. |
40.7±6.3 5% above U.S. |
39.9±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Brooklyn and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.3%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.6%±4.6 U.S.: 22% |
22.6%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Ashburnham and Brooklyn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.6%±2.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.1%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.6%±2.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 23.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
23.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
44%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
25.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Webster and Ashburnham 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 16% below U.S. |
$96,207±$15k 19% above U.S. |
$118,809±$11kHighest 47% above U.S. |
$72,895±$6k 10% below U.S. |
| Ashburnham and Brooklyn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $301,600±$20kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$315,200±$28k 5% below U.S. |
$390,700±$34kHighest 17% above U.S. |
$361,500±$12k 9% above U.S. |
| 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±$51Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,125±$98 20% below U.S. |
$1,807±$1kHighest 28% above U.S. |
$1,228±$81 13% below U.S. |
| 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 33% above U.S. |
$4,538 45% above U.S. |
$6,046Highest 94% above U.S. |
$3,999Lowest 28% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.7%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
38.5%±19.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.7%±6.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ashburnham and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 13.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
96%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1954Lowest 26 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1962 18 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 16% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
32 minHighest 21% above U.S. |
31 min 16% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.3%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.7%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
16%±7.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #113 of 149 in CT | #178 of 282 in MA | #271 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Gardner | Brooklyn School District | Ashburnham-Westminster | Webster |
| High school in town | Gardner High | None in town | None in town | 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.