Compare towns
Gardner vs Heath vs Webster vs Easthampton
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 oldest housing (typical home built 1954).
Heath has the most people working from home (31.7%).
Webster has the youngest population (median age 39.9).
Easthampton has the shortest commute (22 min average).
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 | Heath | Webster | Easthampton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 21,148Highest |
765Lowest |
17,748 |
16,086 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.2% MA: +7.4% |
+2.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 43.7±2.3 9% above MA |
53.8±11.9Highest 35% above MA |
39.9±2.9Lowest about the MA average |
46±2.6 15% above MA |
| Heath and Easthampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.3%±2.3 MA: 19.4% |
13.1%±2.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±2.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
15.5%±2.4 MA: 19.4% |
| Webster and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.6%±2.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
33.6%±8.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.6%±2.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
23.9%±3 MA: 17.9% |
| Heath and Easthampton 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% |
46.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
25.3% MA: 47.3% |
38% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
3.3%±2.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.8%±1.6 MA: 7.9% |
6.1%±1.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Easthampton 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±$8kLowest 35% below MA |
$98,750±$23kHighest 5% below MA |
$72,895±$6k 30% below MA |
$71,673±$7k 31% below MA |
| Heath and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $301,600±$20k 46% below MA |
$295,000±$45kLowest 48% below MA |
$361,500±$12k 36% below MA |
$371,500±$15kHighest 34% below MA |
| Easthampton and Webster 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 |
— | $1,228±$81 30% below MA |
$1,292±$70Highest 27% below MA |
| Easthampton and Webster 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 |
$4,438 26% below MA |
$3,999Lowest 33% below MA |
$4,932Highest 18% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.7%±8.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
40%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
45.7%±6.7 MA: 51.8% |
45.5%±10.7 MA: 51.8% |
| Gardner and Webster 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% |
6.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
12.7% MA: 10% |
8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.9% MA: 62.5% |
88.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
59.8% MA: 62.5% |
58.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1954Lowest 10 yrs older than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1962 2 yrs older than MA |
1966 2 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 5% above MA |
35 minHighest 20% above MA |
31 min 5% above MA |
22 minLowest 23% below MA |
| Work from home | 13.3%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
31.7%±17.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
8%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
19%±3.2 MA: 18.6% |
| Heath and Easthampton 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 | #92 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Gardner | — | Webster | Easthampton |
| High school in town | Gardner High | — | Bartlett High School | Easthampton High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
— | 11.6 |
9.8Lowest |
| 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.