Compare towns
Gardner vs Hampton 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
Hampton has the oldest population (median age 51.5).
Webster has the most renters (54.5% rent).
Ashburnham has the most expensive homes ($391k median).
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 | Ashburnham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 21,148Highest |
1,647Lowest |
12,228 |
6,415 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +6.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±2.3 12% above U.S. |
51.5±5.3Highest 32% above U.S. |
37.2±2.1Lowest 4% below U.S. |
40.7±6.3 5% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 18.3%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.7%±5.3 U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±3.6 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% |
26.1%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.7%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.1%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 23.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
29.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
18.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
44%Highest 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% |
6%±1.8Highest 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±$8k 16% below U.S. |
$109,167±$19k 35% above U.S. |
$63,837±$8kLowest 21% below U.S. |
$118,809±$11kHighest 47% above U.S. |
| Ashburnham 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±$20k 9% below U.S. |
$295,800±$27kLowest 11% below U.S. |
$333,100±$14k about the U.S. average |
$390,700±$34kHighest 17% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,109±$51Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,285±$288 9% below U.S. |
$1,198±$85 15% below U.S. |
$1,807±$1kHighest 28% above U.S. |
| Ashburnham and Hampton 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. |
$3,234Lowest 4% above U.S. |
$6,046Highest 94% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.7%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.5%±51.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
46.1%±7.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ashburnham and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 13.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
16%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
90% U.S.: 65.2% |
45.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1954Lowest 26 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1954Lowest 26 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 16% above U.S. |
29 min 10% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 21% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.3%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±5.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.1%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16%±7.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hampton and Ashburnham 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 | — | #271 of 282 in MA | #178 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Gardner | Hampton School District | — | Ashburnham-Westminster |
| High school in town | Gardner High | None in town | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5 |
— | — | — |
| 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.