Compare towns
Gardner vs Plainfield vs Webster vs 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).
Plainfield has the shortest commute (24 min average).
Webster has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
Ashburnham has the highest household income ($119k).
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 | Ashburnham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 21,148Highest |
1,314Lowest |
17,748 |
6,415 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±2.3 12% above U.S. |
48.1±5.5Highest 24% above U.S. |
39.9±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
40.7±6.3 5% above U.S. |
| Plainfield 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% |
16.3%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
22.6%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| 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% |
21.1%±3.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.6%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.1%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Plainfield 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
25.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
44% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Webster and Ashburnham 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. |
$69,250±$31k 14% below U.S. |
$72,895±$6k 10% below U.S. |
$118,809±$11kHighest 47% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $301,600±$20kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$318,400±$34k 4% below U.S. |
$361,500±$12k 9% above U.S. |
$390,700±$34kHighest 17% above U.S. |
| Ashburnham 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. |
$1,153±$103 18% below U.S. |
$1,228±$81 13% below U.S. |
$1,807±$1kHighest 28% above U.S. |
| Ashburnham 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. |
$4,806 54% above U.S. |
$3,999Lowest 28% above U.S. |
$6,046Highest 94% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.7%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
73.2%±53.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
45.7%±6.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ashburnham and Plainfield 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% |
11.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
96%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1954Lowest 26 yrs older than U.S. |
1955 25 yrs older than U.S. |
1962 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 16% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
31 min 16% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 21% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.3%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.4%±4.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16%±7.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Plainfield and 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 | #178 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Gardner | — | Webster | Ashburnham-Westminster |
| High school in town | Gardner High | — | Bartlett High School | None in town |
| 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.