Compare towns
Gardner vs Lawrence 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%).
Lawrence has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.7%).
Webster has the highest household income ($73k).
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 | Lawrence | Webster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 21,148 |
88,736Highest |
17,748Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+16.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±2.3Highest 9% above MA |
32.6±0.9Lowest 19% below MA |
39.9±2.9 about the MA average |
| Gardner and Webster 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% |
26.3%±1.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±2.9 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 19.6%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
10.5%±0.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.6%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 23.8% MA: 47.3% |
16.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
25.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±0.8 MA: 7.9% |
5.8%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Webster and Lawrence 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 |
$60,433±$3kLowest 42% below MA |
$72,895±$6kHighest 30% below MA |
| Webster 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 |
$415,200±$23kHighest 26% below MA |
$361,500±$12k 36% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,109±$51Lowest 37% below MA |
$1,662±$50Highest 6% below MA |
$1,228±$81 30% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,150Highest 31% below MA |
$3,422Lowest 43% below MA |
$3,999 33% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.7%±8.6 MA: 51.8% |
60.6%±3.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
45.7%±6.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Lawrence 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% |
17.6%Highest MA: 10% |
12.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.9% MA: 62.5% |
28.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
59.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1954 10 yrs older than MA |
1950Lowest 14 yrs older than MA |
1962Highest 2 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 5% above MA |
23 minLowest 21% below MA |
31 minHighest 5% above MA |
| Work from home | 13.3%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
6.8%±1.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
8%±2.5 MA: 18.6% |
| Gardner and Webster 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 | #278 of 282 in MA | #271 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Gardner | Lawrence | Webster |
| High school in town | Gardner High | Lawrence High School | Bartlett High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5 |
13.6Highest |
11.6Lowest |
| 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.