Compare towns
Gardner vs Northbridge 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).
Northbridge has the highest household income ($111k).
Webster has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.9%).
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 | Northbridge | Webster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 21,148Highest |
16,458 |
12,228Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.2% MA: +7.4% |
+4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±2.3 9% above MA |
43.8±2.6Highest 9% above MA |
37.2±2.1Lowest 7% below MA |
| Northbridge and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.3%±2.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.1%±2.9 MA: 19.4% |
21.8%±3.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Webster and Northbridge 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% |
16.4%±2.1 MA: 17.9% |
15.7%±2.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Gardner and Northbridge 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% |
36.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
18.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6%±1.8Highest 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±$8k 35% below MA |
$111,319±$19kHighest 7% above MA |
$63,837±$8kLowest 39% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $301,600±$20kLowest 46% below MA |
$448,600±$15kHighest 20% below MA |
$333,100±$14k 41% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,109±$51Lowest 37% below MA |
$1,207±$102Highest 31% below MA |
$1,198±$85 32% below MA |
| Northbridge 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 |
$4,821Highest 20% below MA |
$3,234Lowest 46% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.7%±8.6 MA: 51.8% |
51.2%±9.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
46.1%±7.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Northbridge 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% |
7.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
16%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.9% MA: 62.5% |
70.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
45.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1954Lowest 10 yrs older than MA |
1973Highest 9 yrs newer than MA |
1954Lowest 10 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 5% above MA |
31 minHighest 7% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
| Work from home | 13.3%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
16.2%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
7.1%±2.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Northbridge 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 | #226 of 282 in MA | #271 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Gardner | Northbridge | — |
| High school in town | Gardner High | Northbridge High | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
10.8Lowest |
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| 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.