Compare towns
Gardner vs Buzzards Bay 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).
Buzzards Bay has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.9%).
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 | Buzzards Bay | Webster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 21,148Highest |
2,909Lowest |
17,748 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+10.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±2.3 9% above MA |
54.4±5.9Highest 36% above MA |
39.9±2.9Lowest about the MA average |
| Kids under 18 | 18.3%±2.3 MA: 19.4% |
6.7%±2.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±2.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Webster and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.6%±2.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
32.3%±5.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.6%±2.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 23.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
29.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
25.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
8.9%±1.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.8%±1.6 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $67,518±$8kLowest 35% below MA |
$94,388±$12kHighest 9% below MA |
$72,895±$6k 30% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $301,600±$20kLowest 46% below MA |
$454,500±$28kHighest 19% below MA |
$361,500±$12k 36% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,109±$51Lowest 37% below MA |
$1,484±$601Highest 16% below MA |
$1,228±$81 30% below MA |
| Buzzards Bay and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,150Highest 31% below MA |
$3,405Lowest 43% below MA |
$3,999 33% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.7%±8.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
37.9%±20.3Lowest 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% |
7.3%Lowest MA: 10% |
12.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
75.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
59.8% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1954Lowest 10 yrs older than MA |
1956 8 yrs older than MA |
1962Highest 2 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minLowest 5% above MA |
32 minHighest 10% above MA |
31 minLowest 5% above MA |
| Work from home | 13.3%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
17.4%±6.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
8%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Buzzards Bay 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 | — | #271 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Gardner | — | Webster |
| High school in town | Gardner High | — | 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 |
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.