Compare towns
Gardner vs Orange vs Webster vs Spencer
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 renters (41.1% rent).
Orange has the most affordable homes ($246k median).
Webster has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
Spencer has the most people working from home (15%).
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 | Orange | Webster | Spencer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 21,148Highest |
7,573Lowest |
17,748 |
12,008 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.2% MA: +7.4% |
-3.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±2.3 9% above MA |
41.8±2.2 4% above MA |
39.9±2.9Lowest about the MA average |
48.9±6.8Highest 22% above MA |
| Spencer 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% |
22.2%±3.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±2.9 MA: 19.4% |
16.4%±3.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Orange and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.6%±2.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.3%±3.1 MA: 17.9% |
19.6%±2.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
26%±4.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Spencer and Orange 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% |
15.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
25.3% MA: 47.3% |
29.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
2%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.8%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.2%±2.4 MA: 7.9% |
| 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 35% below MA |
$55,824±$10kLowest 46% below MA |
$72,895±$6k 30% below MA |
$80,533±$11kHighest 23% below MA |
| Spencer and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $301,600±$20k 46% below MA |
$245,900±$18kLowest 56% below MA |
$361,500±$12k 36% below MA |
$382,000±$22kHighest 32% below MA |
| Spencer and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,109±$51 37% below MA |
$775±$233Lowest 56% below MA |
$1,228±$81Highest 30% below MA |
$1,078±$161 39% below MA |
| 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 31% below MA |
$4,136 31% below MA |
$3,999Lowest 33% below MA |
$4,387Highest 27% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.7%±8.6 MA: 51.8% |
41%±11.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
45.7%±6.7 MA: 51.8% |
50.6%±10.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
| 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% MA: 10% |
22.4%Highest MA: 10% |
12.7% MA: 10% |
11%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
70%Highest MA: 62.5% |
59.8% MA: 62.5% |
63% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1954Lowest 10 yrs older than MA |
1966 2 yrs newer than MA |
1962 2 yrs older than MA |
1968Highest 4 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minLowest 5% above MA |
33 min 13% above MA |
31 minLowest 5% above MA |
34 minHighest 18% above MA |
| Work from home | 13.3%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
6.6%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
8%±2.5 MA: 18.6% |
15%±7.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Spencer 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 | #275 of 282 in MA | #271 of 282 in MA | #261 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Gardner | Orange · Ralph C Mahar | Webster | Spencer-E Brookfield |
| High school in town | Gardner High | Ralph C Mahar Regional | Bartlett High School | David Prouty High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
9.0Lowest |
11.6 |
9.9 |
| 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.