Compare towns
Gardner vs Ogunquit vs Webster vs Spencer
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 affordable homes ($302k median).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Webster has the most renters (54.5% rent).
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 | Ogunquit | Webster | Spencer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 21,148Highest |
1,379Lowest |
12,228 |
12,008 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±2.3 12% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
37.2±2.1Lowest 4% below U.S. |
48.9±6.8 26% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 18.3%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.4%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Webster and Gardner 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% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.7%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26%±4.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 23.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
18.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
29.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Webster and Spencer 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 16% below U.S. |
$114,259±$56kHighest 42% above U.S. |
$63,837±$8kLowest 21% below U.S. |
$80,533±$11k about the U.S. average |
| Ogunquit and Spencer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $301,600±$20kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
$333,100±$14k about the U.S. average |
$382,000±$22k 15% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,109±$51 22% below U.S. |
— | $1,198±$85Highest 15% below U.S. |
$1,078±$161Lowest 24% 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 | $4,150 33% above U.S. |
$4,473Highest 43% above U.S. |
$3,234Lowest 4% above U.S. |
$4,387 41% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.7%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.1%±7.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±10.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Spencer 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% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
16%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
11% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
45.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
63% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1954Lowest 26 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1954Lowest 26 yrs older than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 16% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
28 min 4% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.3%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.1%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15%±7.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #273 of 282 in MA | — | #271 of 282 in MA | #261 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Gardner | — | — | Spencer-E Brookfield |
| High school in town | Gardner High | — | — | David Prouty High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
— | — | 9.9Lowest |
| 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.