Compare towns
Gardner vs Mapleton vs Webster vs North Adams
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%).
Mapleton has the most homeowners (79.9%).
Webster has the most expensive homes ($362k median).
North Adams has the shortest commute (17 min average).
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 | Mapleton | Webster | North Adams |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 21,148Highest |
1,884Lowest |
17,748 |
12,606 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±2.3 12% above U.S. |
41.8±6 7% above U.S. |
39.9±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
44.1±3.5Highest 13% above U.S. |
| North Adams 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% |
22.2%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
15.7%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Mapleton and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.6%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.6%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.6%±2.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| North Adams 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% |
34.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
25.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
28.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
9.8%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $67,518±$8k 16% below U.S. |
$91,731±$25kHighest 14% above U.S. |
$72,895±$6k 10% below U.S. |
$47,500±$7kLowest 41% below U.S. |
| Mapleton 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 9% below U.S. |
$191,800±$23kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$361,500±$12kHighest 9% above U.S. |
$195,900±$14k 41% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,109±$51 22% below U.S. |
$610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$1,228±$81Highest 13% below U.S. |
$793±$113 44% below U.S. |
| Webster and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,150Highest 33% above U.S. |
$1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
$3,999 28% above U.S. |
$3,078 about the U.S. average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.7%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.7%±6.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
63.7%±11Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| North Adams and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 13.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
18.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
51%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1954 26 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1962 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 16% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 16% above U.S. |
17 minLowest 34% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.3%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
8%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.2%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Gardner and Mapleton 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 | — | #271 of 282 in MA | #268 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Gardner | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Webster | North Adams · Northern Berkshire Regional Vocational Technical |
| High school in town | Gardner High | None in town | Bartlett High School | Charles McCann Vocational Technical |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
— | 11.6 |
10.6Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.