Compare towns
Gardner vs Plainfield vs Webster vs Easthampton
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 oldest housing (typical home built 1954).
Plainfield has the most homeowners (73.6%).
Webster has the most kids (19.6% under 18).
Easthampton has the most people working from home (19%).
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 | Plainfield | Webster | Easthampton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 21,148Highest |
15,141Lowest |
17,748 |
16,086 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 43.7±2.3 12% above U.S. |
37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
39.9±2.9 about the U.S. average |
46±2.6Highest 18% above U.S. |
| Easthampton 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 U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±2.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.5%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Webster and Plainfield 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% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.6%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
23.9%±3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Easthampton 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
15%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
25.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
38%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Easthampton 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. |
$76,993±$8kHighest 5% below U.S. |
$72,895±$6k 10% below U.S. |
$71,673±$7k 11% below U.S. |
| Plainfield 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 9% below U.S. |
$272,100±$16kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$361,500±$12k 9% above U.S. |
$371,500±$15kHighest 12% above U.S. |
| Easthampton and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,109±$51Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,204±$70 15% below U.S. |
$1,228±$81 13% below U.S. |
$1,292±$70Highest 9% below U.S. |
| Easthampton and Webster 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. |
$4,209 35% above U.S. |
$3,999Lowest 28% above U.S. |
$4,932Highest 58% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.7%±8.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.8%±9.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.7%±6.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
45.5%±10.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Gardner and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 13.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
58.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1954Lowest 26 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Highest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1962 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1966 14 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 16% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
31 minHighest 16% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 16% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.3%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
8%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±3.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Easthampton 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 | #131 of 149 in CT | #271 of 282 in MA | #92 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Gardner | Plainfield School District | Webster | Easthampton |
| High school in town | Gardner High | Plainfield High School | Bartlett High School | Easthampton High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
10.3 |
11.6 |
9.8Lowest |
| 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.