Compare towns
Gardner vs Hooksett vs Webster vs West Springfield Town
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).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
Webster has the most kids (19.6% under 18).
West Springfield Town has the shortest commute (19 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 | Hooksett | Webster | West Springfield Town |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 21,148 |
15,057Lowest |
17,748 |
28,772Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±2.3Highest 12% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5 6% above U.S. |
39.9±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
40.1±2.6 3% above U.S. |
| Gardner and Hooksett 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% |
17.4%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±2.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Webster and West Springfield Town are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.6%±2.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.6%±2.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.5%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 23.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
25.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
34% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hooksett 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 16% below U.S. |
$117,962±$11kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$72,895±$6k 10% below U.S. |
$69,371±$7k 14% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $301,600±$20kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$407,000±$26kHighest 22% above U.S. |
$361,500±$12k 9% above U.S. |
$321,500±$16k 3% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,109±$51Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,661±$206Highest 18% above U.S. |
$1,228±$81 13% below U.S. |
$1,144±$68 19% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,150 33% above U.S. |
$6,554Highest 110% above U.S. |
$3,999Lowest 28% above U.S. |
$4,380 40% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.7%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.7%±6.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
60.1%±9.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| West Springfield Town and Gardner 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% |
3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
58.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1954Lowest 26 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1962 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1958 22 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 16% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
31 minHighest 16% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.3%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.4%±2.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hooksett and Gardner 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 | #30 of 120 in NH | #271 of 282 in MA | #218 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Gardner | Hooksett School District | Webster | West Springfield |
| High school in town | Gardner High | None in town | Bartlett High School | West Springfield High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
— | 11.6Lowest |
13.1 |
| 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.