Compare towns
Gardner vs Lowell vs Springfield 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%).
Lowell has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).
Springfield has the shortest commute (20 min average).
Webster has the most homeowners (59.8%).
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 | Lowell | Springfield | Webster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 21,148 |
118,368 |
154,749Highest |
17,748Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.2% MA: +7.4% |
+8.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+1.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±2.3Highest 9% above MA |
35.6±0.8 11% below MA |
33.7±0.5Lowest 16% 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% |
21.7%±1.3 MA: 19.4% |
24.2%±0.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±2.9 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 19.6%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
12.6%±0.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
13.2%±0.7 MA: 17.9% |
19.6%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 23.8% MA: 47.3% |
30%Highest MA: 47.3% |
20.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
25.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
9.7%±0.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
7.5%±0.5 MA: 7.9% |
5.8%±1.6 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $67,518±$8k 35% below MA |
$78,658±$4kHighest 24% below MA |
$52,656±$2kLowest 49% below MA |
$72,895±$6k 30% below MA |
| Lowell 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±$20k 46% below MA |
$429,200±$11kHighest 24% below MA |
$245,000±$4kLowest 56% below MA |
$361,500±$12k 36% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,109±$51Lowest 37% below MA |
$1,625±$40Highest 8% below MA |
$1,144±$55 35% below MA |
$1,228±$81 30% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,150 31% below MA |
$4,499Highest 25% below MA |
$3,695Lowest 38% below MA |
$3,999 33% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.7%±8.6 MA: 51.8% |
52.4%±3.8 MA: 51.8% |
57.7%±3.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
45.7%±6.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Springfield and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 13.7% MA: 10% |
16.9% MA: 10% |
25.8%Highest MA: 10% |
12.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.9% MA: 62.5% |
43.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
49.6% MA: 62.5% |
59.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1954 10 yrs older than MA |
1953 11 yrs older than MA |
1952Lowest 12 yrs older than MA |
1962Highest 2 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 5% above MA |
28 min 4% below MA |
20 minLowest 31% below MA |
31 minHighest 5% above MA |
| Work from home | 13.3%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.6%±1.3 MA: 18.6% |
8.4%±0.9 MA: 18.6% |
8%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Gardner and Lowell 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 | #255 of 282 in MA | #276 of 282 in MA | #271 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Gardner | Lowell | Springfield | Webster |
| High school in town | Gardner High | Lowell High | Springfield Central High | Bartlett High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5 |
14.8Highest |
12.2 |
11.6Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.