Compare towns
Gardner vs Hampton vs Webster vs Templeton
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).
Hampton has the most expensive homes ($545k median).
Webster has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
Templeton has the most kids (22.9% under 18).
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 | Hampton | Webster | Templeton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 21,148Highest |
10,101 |
17,748 |
8,252Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±2.3 12% above U.S. |
51.2±1.7Highest 32% above U.S. |
39.9±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
40.3±5.1 4% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 18.3%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
22.9%±5.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Templeton 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% |
26.9%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.6%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.7%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 23.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
25.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
26.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 16% below U.S. |
$97,163±$4k 20% above U.S. |
$72,895±$6k 10% below U.S. |
$101,154±$15kHighest 25% above U.S. |
| Templeton and Hampton 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. |
$545,300±$63kHighest 64% above U.S. |
$361,500±$12k 9% above U.S. |
$358,500±$12k 8% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,109±$51Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,654±$93Highest 17% above U.S. |
$1,228±$81 13% below U.S. |
$1,207±$353 15% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,150 33% above U.S. |
$6,872Highest 120% above U.S. |
$3,999Lowest 28% above U.S. |
$4,554 46% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.7%±8.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.9%±13.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
45.7%±6.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.7%±26.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Gardner and Hampton 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% |
4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
74.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1954Lowest 26 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1962 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 16% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
31 minHighest 16% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.3%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
20.5%±3.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.9%±5.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hampton and Templeton 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 | #31 of 120 in NH | #271 of 282 in MA | #244 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Gardner | — | Webster | Narragansett |
| High school in town | Gardner High | — | Bartlett High School | Narragansett Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
— | 11.6Lowest |
12.2 |
| 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.