Compare towns
Gardner vs Marion vs Webster vs Ashburnham
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).
Marion has the most expensive homes ($654k median).
Webster has the youngest population (median age 39.9).
Ashburnham has the most kids (22.6% under 18).
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 | Marion | Webster | Ashburnham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 21,148Highest |
5,310Lowest |
17,748 |
6,415 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.2% MA: +7.4% |
+9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6% MA: +7.4% |
+3.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±2.3 9% above MA |
53.8±4Highest 35% above MA |
39.9±2.9Lowest about the MA average |
40.7±6.3 about the MA average |
| Kids under 18 | 18.3%±2.3 MA: 19.4% |
16.7%±4.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±2.9 MA: 19.4% |
22.6%±6Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Ashburnham 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 MA: 17.9% |
27.3%±5.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.6%±2.5 MA: 17.9% |
18.1%±4.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Marion 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 MA: 47.3% |
46.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
25.3% MA: 47.3% |
44% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
7.7%±4.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.8%±1.6 MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
| Marion and Webster 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 |
$143,092±$30kHighest 38% above MA |
$72,895±$6k 30% below MA |
$118,809±$11k 14% above MA |
| Marion and Ashburnham 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 |
$653,500±$47kHighest 16% above MA |
$361,500±$12k 36% below MA |
$390,700±$34k 30% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,109±$51Lowest 37% below MA |
$1,176±$516 33% below MA |
$1,228±$81 30% below MA |
$1,807±$1kHighest about the MA average |
| Ashburnham and Webster 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 |
$5,766 4% below MA |
$3,999Lowest 33% below MA |
$6,046Highest about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.7%±8.6 MA: 51.8% |
75.8%±26.8 MA: 51.8% |
45.7%±6.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Ashburnham and Marion 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% |
9% MA: 10% |
12.7% MA: 10% |
6.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
90.8% MA: 62.5% |
59.8% MA: 62.5% |
96%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1954Lowest 10 yrs older than MA |
1962 2 yrs older than MA |
1962 2 yrs older than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minLowest 5% above MA |
34 minHighest 15% above MA |
31 minLowest 5% above MA |
32 min 10% above MA |
| Work from home | 13.3%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
20.1%±8.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
8%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
16%±7.7 MA: 18.6% |
| Marion and Ashburnham 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 | #141 of 282 in MA | #271 of 282 in MA | #178 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Gardner | Marion | Webster | Ashburnham-Westminster |
| High school in town | Gardner High | None in town | Bartlett High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
— | 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.