Compare towns
Gardner vs Hampton vs Spencer vs Webster
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 renters (41.1% rent).
Hampton has the most homeowners (90%).
Spencer has the most expensive homes ($382k median).
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 | Hampton | Spencer | Webster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 21,148Highest |
1,647Lowest |
12,008 |
17,748 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±2.3 12% above U.S. |
51.5±5.3Highest 32% above U.S. |
48.9±6.8 26% above U.S. |
39.9±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Hampton and Spencer 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% |
19.7%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.4%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Hampton 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.1%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
26%±4.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.6%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hampton and Spencer 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% |
29.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
29.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
25.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Webster and Spencer 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. |
$109,167±$19kHighest 35% above U.S. |
$80,533±$11k about the U.S. average |
$72,895±$6k 10% below U.S. |
| Hampton and Spencer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $301,600±$20k 9% below U.S. |
$295,800±$27kLowest 11% below U.S. |
$382,000±$22kHighest 15% above U.S. |
$361,500±$12k 9% above U.S. |
| Spencer and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,109±$51 22% below U.S. |
$1,285±$288Highest 9% below U.S. |
$1,078±$161Lowest 24% below U.S. |
$1,228±$81 13% below U.S. |
| Hampton 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. |
$4,364 40% above U.S. |
$4,387Highest 41% above U.S. |
$3,999Lowest 28% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.7%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.5%±51.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±10.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
45.7%±6.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hampton and Spencer 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% |
5.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
63% U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1954Lowest 26 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1962 18 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 16% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 10% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
31 min 16% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.3%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±5.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15%±7.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
8%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hampton and Spencer 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 | — | #261 of 282 in MA | #271 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Gardner | Hampton School District | Spencer-E Brookfield | Webster |
| High school in town | Gardner High | None in town | David Prouty High | Bartlett High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
— | 9.9Lowest |
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.