Compare towns
Gardner vs Halifax vs Hanson 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).
Halifax has the most homeowners (95.5%).
Hanson has the highest household income ($132k).
Webster has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
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 | Halifax | Hanson | Webster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 21,148Highest |
7,748Lowest |
10,660 |
17,748 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.2% MA: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.2% MA: +7.4% |
+6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±2.3Highest 9% above MA |
41.9±4.7 5% above MA |
42.8±3 7% above MA |
39.9±2.9Lowest about the MA average |
| Gardner and Hanson 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% |
22.2%±5.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.6%±3.7 MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±2.9 MA: 19.4% |
| Halifax and Hanson 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% |
18.8%±3.6Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.7%±3Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.6%±2.5 MA: 17.9% |
| Hanson 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% |
36.1% MA: 47.3% |
42.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
25.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
4.8%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
5.8%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Webster and Halifax 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 |
$118,556±$11k 14% above MA |
$132,200±$10kHighest 27% above MA |
$72,895±$6k 30% below MA |
| Hanson and Halifax 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 |
$481,500±$51k 14% below MA |
$533,900±$36kHighest 5% below MA |
$361,500±$12k 36% below MA |
| Hanson and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,109±$51Lowest 37% below MA |
$1,804±$375 about the MA average |
$1,821±$860Highest 3% above MA |
$1,228±$81 30% below MA |
| Hanson and Halifax 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 |
$6,840Highest 14% above MA |
$6,402 7% above MA |
$3,999Lowest 33% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.7%±8.6 MA: 51.8% |
45.6%±37.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
69%±33.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
45.7%±6.7 MA: 51.8% |
| Hanson 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 MA: 10% |
2.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
2.7% MA: 10% |
12.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
95.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
89% MA: 62.5% |
59.8% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1954Lowest 10 yrs older than MA |
1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA |
1972 8 yrs newer than MA |
1962 2 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minLowest 5% above MA |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
34 min 15% above MA |
31 minLowest 5% above MA |
| Work from home | 13.3%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
13.9%±5.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
7.9%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
8%±2.5 MA: 18.6% |
| Halifax 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 | #120 of 282 in MA | #149 of 282 in MA | #271 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Gardner | Halifax | Whitman-Hanson | Webster |
| High school in town | Gardner High | None in town | Whitman Hanson Regional | Bartlett High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5 |
— | 14.7Highest |
11.6Lowest |
| 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.