Compare towns
Gardner vs Deep River vs Webster vs Ashburnham
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).
Deep River has the shortest commute (24 min average).
Webster has the youngest population (median age 39.9).
Ashburnham has the most homeowners (96%).
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 | Deep River | Webster | Ashburnham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 21,148Highest |
4,458Lowest |
17,748 |
6,415 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±2.3 12% above U.S. |
46.2±5.6Highest 19% above U.S. |
39.9±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
40.7±6.3 5% above U.S. |
| Deep River and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.3%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
16.6%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
22.6%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.1%±4.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.6%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.1%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Deep River and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 23.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
25.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
44% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±2.2 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. |
$90,253±$19k 12% above U.S. |
$72,895±$6k 10% below U.S. |
$118,809±$11kHighest 47% above U.S. |
| Ashburnham and Deep River 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. |
$362,200±$26k 9% above U.S. |
$361,500±$12k 9% above U.S. |
$390,700±$34kHighest 17% above U.S. |
| Ashburnham and Deep River 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. |
$1,221±$185 14% below U.S. |
$1,228±$81 13% below U.S. |
$1,807±$1kHighest 28% above 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. |
$6,092Highest 95% above U.S. |
$3,999Lowest 28% above U.S. |
$6,046 94% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.7%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
58.2%±22.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
45.7%±6.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ashburnham and Deep River 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% |
8.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
96%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1954Lowest 26 yrs older than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1962 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 16% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 8% below U.S. |
31 min 16% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 21% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.3%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.2%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
8%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16%±7.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ashburnham and Deep River 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 | #70 of 149 in CT | #271 of 282 in MA | #178 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Gardner | Deep River School District · Regional School District 04 | Webster | Ashburnham-Westminster |
| High school in town | Gardner High | Valley Regional High School | Bartlett High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
9.3Lowest |
11.6 |
— |
| 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.