Compare towns
Gardner vs Ogunquit vs Webster vs South Ashburnham
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%).
South Ashburnham has the highest household income ($126k).
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 | South Ashburnham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 21,148Highest |
1,379Lowest |
17,748 |
1,500 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±2.3 12% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
39.9±2.9 about the U.S. average |
38.1±10.4Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Kids under 18 | 18.3%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±8.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| South 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.6%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
8.2%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 23.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
25.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
27.2% 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% |
5.8%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.2%±5.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| South Ashburnham 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 16% below U.S. |
$114,259±$56k 42% above U.S. |
$72,895±$6k 10% below U.S. |
$126,071±$42kHighest 56% above U.S. |
| South Ashburnham and Ogunquit 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. |
$361,500±$12k 9% above U.S. |
$370,300±$56k 11% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,109±$51Lowest 22% below U.S. |
— | $1,228±$81Highest 13% 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. |
$4,473 43% above U.S. |
$3,999Lowest 28% above U.S. |
$4,896Highest 57% 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% |
45.7%±6.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
100%±10.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 13.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
91.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1954Lowest 26 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1962 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1960 20 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 16% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
31 minHighest 16% above U.S. |
29 min 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.3%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.7%±18.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ogunquit and South 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 | — | #271 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Gardner | — | Webster | — |
| High school in town | Gardner High | — | Bartlett High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
— | 11.6Lowest |
— |
| 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.