Compare towns
Gardner vs Georgetown vs Upton 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).
Georgetown has the most expensive homes ($651k median).
Upton has the most people working from home (22.8%).
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 | Georgetown | Upton | Webster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 21,148Highest |
8,474 |
8,189Lowest |
17,748 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.2% MA: +7.4% |
+3.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±2.3 9% above MA |
42.8±3.5 7% above MA |
46.4±4.8Highest 16% above MA |
39.9±2.9Lowest about the MA average |
| Upton 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% |
23.5%±3.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5 MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±2.9 MA: 19.4% |
| Georgetown and Upton 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% |
18.5%±2.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.6%±2.5 MA: 17.9% |
| Upton 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 MA: 47.3% |
56.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
53.5% MA: 47.3% |
25.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.6 MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest 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 |
$151,595±$23k 46% above MA |
$155,508±$33kHighest 50% above MA |
$72,895±$6k 30% below MA |
| Upton and Georgetown 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 |
$651,200±$23kHighest 16% above MA |
$576,700±$41k about the MA average |
$361,500±$12k 36% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,109±$51 37% below MA |
$2,223±$506Highest 26% above MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$1,228±$81 30% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,150 31% below MA |
$7,272 21% above MA |
$8,376Highest 40% above MA |
$3,999Lowest 33% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.7%±8.6 MA: 51.8% |
53.7%±22.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31 MA: 51.8% |
45.7%±6.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Georgetown and Upton 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% |
3.8% MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
12.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
84% MA: 62.5% |
86.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
59.8% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1954Lowest 10 yrs older than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1962 2 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minLowest 5% above MA |
34 min 15% above MA |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
31 minLowest 5% above MA |
| Work from home | 13.3%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
20.2%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
8%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Upton and Georgetown 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 | #140 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA | #271 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Gardner | Georgetown | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Webster |
| High school in town | Gardner High | Georgetown High School | Blackstone Valley | Bartlett High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
9.3Lowest |
11.2 |
11.6 |
| 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.