Compare towns
Gardner vs Johnston 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 people working from home (13.3%).
Johnston has the most homeowners (75.9%).
Webster has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
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 | Johnston | Webster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 21,148 |
29,835Highest |
17,748Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±2.3 12% above U.S. |
44.5±2.5Highest 14% above U.S. |
39.9±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Johnston and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.3%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
17.5%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±2.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.1%±2.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.6%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Johnston 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
25.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Johnston 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. |
$91,866±$6kHighest 14% above U.S. |
$72,895±$6k 10% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $301,600±$20kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$355,500±$13k 7% above U.S. |
$361,500±$12kHighest 9% above U.S. |
| Webster and Johnston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,109±$51Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,275±$132Highest 10% below U.S. |
$1,228±$81 13% below U.S. |
| Johnston 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. |
$4,614Highest 48% above U.S. |
$3,999Lowest 28% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.7%±8.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.1%±8.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.7%±6.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1954Lowest 26 yrs older than U.S. |
1968Highest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1962 18 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 16% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 11% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 16% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.3%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.9%±2.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
8%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Gardner and Johnston 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 | #32 of 38 in RI | #271 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Gardner | Johnston | Webster |
| High school in town | Gardner High | Johnston Senior High | Bartlett High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
10.3Lowest |
11.6 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.