Compare towns
Gardner vs Dalton 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 people working from home (13.3%).
Dalton has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Webster has the most expensive homes ($362k median).
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 | Dalton | Webster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 21,148Highest |
6,256Lowest |
17,748 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.2% MA: +7.4% |
-6.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±2.3 9% above MA |
49.7±5.8Highest 24% above MA |
39.9±2.9Lowest about the MA average |
| Dalton 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 MA: 19.4% |
20.6%±4.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±2.9 MA: 19.4% |
| Dalton and Webster 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% |
27.9%±5.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.6%±2.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 23.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
44.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
25.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
2.3%±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 |
$79,438±$8kHighest 24% below MA |
$72,895±$6k 30% below MA |
| Dalton and Webster 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 |
$295,700±$26kLowest 47% below MA |
$361,500±$12kHighest 36% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,109±$51 37% below MA |
$872±$70Lowest 51% below MA |
$1,228±$81Highest 30% below MA |
| Webster and Gardner 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 |
$4,276Highest 29% below MA |
$3,999Lowest 33% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.7%±8.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
41.2%±19Lowest 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% |
7.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
12.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
70.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
59.8% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1954Lowest 10 yrs older than MA |
1957 7 yrs older than MA |
1962Highest 2 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 5% above MA |
22 minLowest 24% below MA |
31 minHighest 5% above MA |
| Work from home | 13.3%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.5%±7.1 MA: 18.6% |
8%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Gardner and Dalton 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 | #192 of 282 in MA | #271 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Gardner | Central Berkshire | Webster |
| High school in town | Gardner High | Wahconah Regional High | Bartlett High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
10.9Lowest |
11.6 |
| 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.