Compare towns
Gardner vs Lee 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 affordable homes ($302k median).
Lee has the shortest commute (18 min average).
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 | Lee | Webster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 21,148Highest |
5,719Lowest |
17,748 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.2% MA: +7.4% |
-2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±2.3 9% above MA |
55.2±5.8Highest 38% above MA |
39.9±2.9Lowest about the MA average |
| Kids under 18 | 18.3%±2.3 MA: 19.4% |
12.6%±5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±2.9Highest 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% |
33.4%±6.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.6%±2.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 23.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
44.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
25.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5%±2.1 MA: 7.9% |
5.8%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Webster and Lee 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 |
$83,750±$13kHighest 19% below MA |
$72,895±$6k 30% below MA |
| Lee 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±$20kLowest 46% below MA |
$352,700±$19k 37% below MA |
$361,500±$12kHighest 36% below MA |
| Webster and Lee 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 |
$1,375±$212Highest 22% below MA |
$1,228±$81 30% below MA |
| Lee and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,150Highest 31% below MA |
$3,980Lowest 34% below MA |
$3,999 33% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.7%±8.6 MA: 51.8% |
57.3%±21.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
45.7%±6.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Lee 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 MA: 10% |
7.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
12.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
71.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
59.8% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1954Lowest 10 yrs older than MA |
1959 5 yrs older than MA |
1962Highest 2 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 5% above MA |
18 minLowest 38% below MA |
31 minHighest 5% above MA |
| Work from home | 13.3%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
16.4%±7.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
8%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Lee 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 | #209 of 282 in MA | #271 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Gardner | Lee | Webster |
| High school in town | Gardner High | Lee Middle/High School | Bartlett High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
9.2Lowest |
11.6 |
| 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.