Compare towns
Gardner vs Oakham 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).
Oakham has the oldest population (median age 49).
Webster has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.9%).
Ashburnham has the most people working from home (16%).
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 | Oakham | Webster | Ashburnham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 21,148Highest |
1,639Lowest |
12,228 |
6,415 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.2% MA: +7.4% |
-2.7%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.8% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±2.3 9% above MA |
49±2.3Highest 23% above MA |
37.2±2.1Lowest 7% below MA |
40.7±6.3 about the MA average |
| Kids under 18 | 18.3%±2.3 MA: 19.4% |
18.2%±3.1Lowest 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%±2.2 MA: 17.9% |
21.4%±2.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
15.7%±2.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
18.1%±4.5 MA: 17.9% |
| Oakham 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% MA: 47.3% |
40.3% MA: 47.3% |
18.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
44%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±2.1Lowest 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 |
$102,000±$20k about the MA average |
$63,837±$8kLowest 39% below MA |
$118,809±$11kHighest 14% above MA |
| Ashburnham and Oakham 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 |
$420,100±$20kHighest 25% below MA |
$333,100±$14k 41% below MA |
$390,700±$34k 30% below MA |
| Oakham and Ashburnham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,109±$51Lowest 37% below MA |
$1,174±$81 33% below MA |
$1,198±$85 32% 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 |
$4,103 32% below MA |
$3,234Lowest 46% below MA |
$6,046Highest about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.7%±8.6 MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±69.1Lowest 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% |
4.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
16%Highest MA: 10% |
6.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.9% MA: 62.5% |
91.6% MA: 62.5% |
45.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
96%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1954Lowest 10 yrs older than MA |
1979 15 yrs newer 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 |
39 minHighest 32% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
32 min 10% above MA |
| Work from home | 13.3%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
9.6%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
7.1%±2.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
16%±7.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Ashburnham 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 | — | #271 of 282 in MA | #178 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Gardner | Quabbin | — | Ashburnham-Westminster |
| High school in town | Gardner High | None in town | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5 |
— | — | — |
| 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.