Compare towns
Gardner vs Lenox 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).
Lenox has the highest household income ($106k).
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 | Lenox | Webster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 21,148Highest |
5,079Lowest |
17,748 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.2% MA: +7.4% |
+1.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±2.3 9% above MA |
60.1±4.3Highest 50% above MA |
39.9±2.9Lowest about the MA average |
| Kids under 18 | 18.3%±2.3 MA: 19.4% |
13.3%±4.1Lowest 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% |
40.1%±7.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.6%±2.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 23.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
52.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
25.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.8%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Webster and Gardner 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 |
$106,080±$31kHighest about the MA average |
$72,895±$6k 30% below MA |
| Lenox 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 |
$466,700±$43kHighest 17% below MA |
$361,500±$12k 36% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,109±$51 37% below MA |
$1,091±$238Lowest 38% below MA |
$1,228±$81Highest 30% below MA |
| Webster and Gardner 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 |
$5,299Highest 12% below MA |
$3,999Lowest 33% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.7%±8.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
47.2%±18.8 MA: 51.8% |
45.7%±6.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Gardner and Lenox 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% |
8.5%Lowest MA: 10% |
12.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
71.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
59.8% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1954Lowest 10 yrs older than MA |
1966Highest 2 yrs newer than MA |
1962 2 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 5% above MA |
23 minLowest 22% below MA |
31 minHighest 5% above MA |
| Work from home | 13.3%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
18.3%±8.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
8%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Lenox 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 | #90 of 282 in MA | #271 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Gardner | Lenox | Webster |
| High school in town | Gardner High | Lenox Memorial High | Bartlett High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
7.6Lowest |
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.