Compare towns
Gardner vs Maynard 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).
Maynard has the most people working from home (22.9%).
Webster has the most renters (54.5% rent).
Ashburnham has the most homeowners (96%).
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 | Maynard | Webster | Ashburnham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 21,148Highest |
10,712 |
12,228 |
6,415Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.2% MA: +7.4% |
+6.3% MA: +7.4% |
+6.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±2.3 9% above MA |
45.3±4.3Highest 13% above MA |
37.2±2.1Lowest 7% below MA |
40.7±6.3 about the MA average |
| Maynard 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 MA: 19.4% |
16.9%±4.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.8%±3.6 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%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.2%±3.3 MA: 17.9% |
15.7%±2.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
18.1%±4.5 MA: 17.9% |
| Gardner and Maynard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 23.8% MA: 47.3% |
64.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
18.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
44% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
3.5%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6%±1.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
| Webster and Ashburnham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $67,518±$8k 35% below MA |
$124,067±$16kHighest 19% above MA |
$63,837±$8kLowest 39% below MA |
$118,809±$11k 14% above MA |
| Maynard 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 |
$527,400±$31kHighest 6% below MA |
$333,100±$14k 41% below MA |
$390,700±$34k 30% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,109±$51Lowest 37% below MA |
$1,800±$148 about the MA average |
$1,198±$85 32% below MA |
$1,807±$1kHighest about the MA average |
| Ashburnham and Maynard 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 |
$8,266Highest 38% above MA |
$3,234Lowest 46% below MA |
$6,046 about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.7%±8.6 MA: 51.8% |
44.9%±9.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
46.1%±7.4 MA: 51.8% |
100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Ashburnham and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 13.7% MA: 10% |
8.3% MA: 10% |
16%Highest MA: 10% |
6.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.9% MA: 62.5% |
75% MA: 62.5% |
45.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
96%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1954Lowest 10 yrs older than MA |
1963 1 yr older than MA |
1954Lowest 10 yrs older than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 5% above MA |
32 min 9% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
32 minHighest 10% above MA |
| Work from home | 13.3%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
22.9%±7.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
7.1%±2.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
16%±7.7 MA: 18.6% |
| Maynard 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 | #166 of 282 in MA | #271 of 282 in MA | #178 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Gardner | Maynard | — | Ashburnham-Westminster |
| High school in town | Gardner High | Maynard High | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
9.7Lowest |
— | — |
| 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.