Compare towns
Gardner vs Petersham vs Ware 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 renters (41.1% rent).
Petersham has the highest household income ($111k).
Ware has the shortest commute (28 min average).
Webster has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
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 | Petersham | Ware | Webster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 21,148Highest |
1,185Lowest |
10,048 |
17,748 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.2% MA: +7.4% |
-3.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2% MA: +7.4% |
+6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±2.3 9% above MA |
56.3±2.7Highest 41% above MA |
43.1±4.7 8% above MA |
39.9±2.9Lowest about the MA average |
| Kids under 18 | 18.3%±2.3 MA: 19.4% |
12.7%±2.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19.1%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±2.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Webster and Ware 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% |
30.5%±4.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.6%±3.4 MA: 17.9% |
19.6%±2.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 23.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
42.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
24% MA: 47.3% |
25.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
4%±1.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
5.8%±1.6Highest 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 |
$110,750±$20kHighest 7% above MA |
$67,475±$15kLowest 35% below MA |
$72,895±$6k 30% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $301,600±$20k 46% below MA |
$392,400±$20kHighest 30% below MA |
$289,700±$28kLowest 48% below MA |
$361,500±$12k 36% below MA |
| Petersham 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 |
$1,679±$441Highest 5% below MA |
$1,043±$109Lowest 41% below MA |
$1,228±$81 30% below MA |
| Petersham 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 |
$4,636Highest 23% below MA |
$4,237 29% below MA |
$3,999Lowest 33% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.7%±8.6 MA: 51.8% |
20%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
64.3%±16.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
45.7%±6.7 MA: 51.8% |
| Ware and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 13.7%Highest MA: 10% |
8.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
11.8% MA: 10% |
12.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
94.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
72.3% MA: 62.5% |
59.8% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1954Lowest 10 yrs older than MA |
1962Highest 2 yrs older than MA |
1960 4 yrs older than MA |
1962Highest 2 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 5% above MA |
39 minHighest 32% above MA |
28 minLowest about the MA average |
31 min 5% above MA |
| Work from home | 13.3%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
16.2%±5.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
8%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Petersham 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 | — | #267 of 282 in MA | #271 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Gardner | Petersham | Ware | Webster |
| High school in town | Gardner High | None in town | Ware Junior/Senior High School | Bartlett High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
— | 11.1Lowest |
11.6 |
| 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.