Compare towns
Gardner vs Hardwick 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 people working from home (13.3%).
Hardwick has the most homeowners (68.2%).
Webster has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.9%).
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 | Hardwick | Webster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 21,148Highest |
2,684Lowest |
12,228 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.2% MA: +7.4% |
-10.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±2.3 9% above MA |
45.3±9.8Highest 13% above MA |
37.2±2.1Lowest 7% below MA |
| Hardwick 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% |
20.5%±5.6 MA: 19.4% |
21.8%±3.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Webster and Hardwick 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% |
22.7%±5Highest MA: 17.9% |
15.7%±2.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Hardwick 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% MA: 47.3% |
30.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
18.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.2%±4.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
6%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
| Hardwick and Webster 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 35% below MA |
$75,000±$22kHighest 28% below MA |
$63,837±$8kLowest 39% below MA |
| Hardwick and Gardner 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 |
$346,700±$67kHighest 38% below MA |
$333,100±$14k 41% below MA |
| Hardwick 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 37% below MA |
$1,108±$119Lowest 37% below MA |
$1,198±$85Highest 32% below MA |
| Webster and Gardner 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 |
$4,400Highest 27% below MA |
$3,234Lowest 46% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.7%±8.6 MA: 51.8% |
59%±13.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
46.1%±7.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Hardwick and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 13.7% MA: 10% |
11%Lowest MA: 10% |
16%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.9% MA: 62.5% |
68.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
45.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1954Lowest 10 yrs older than MA |
1968Highest 4 yrs newer than MA |
1954Lowest 10 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 5% above MA |
31 minHighest 7% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
| Work from home | 13.3%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
8.7%±4.3 MA: 18.6% |
7.1%±2.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Gardner and Hardwick 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 | #163 of 282 in MA | #271 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Gardner | Quabbin | — |
| High school in town | Gardner High | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.