Compare towns
Gardner vs Putnam vs Webster vs Spencer
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 renters (41.1% rent).
Putnam has the shortest commute (25 min average).
Webster has the youngest population (median age 39.9).
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 | Putnam | Webster | Spencer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 21,148Highest |
9,292Lowest |
17,748 |
12,008 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±2.3 12% above U.S. |
43.7±3 12% above U.S. |
39.9±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
48.9±6.8Highest 26% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±2.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.4%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Webster and Putnam 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% |
18.5%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.6%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
26%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Spencer 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% |
20%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
25.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
29.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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±$8kLowest 16% below U.S. |
$70,561±$7k 13% below U.S. |
$72,895±$6k 10% below U.S. |
$80,533±$11kHighest about the U.S. average |
| 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 9% below U.S. |
$269,200±$11kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$361,500±$12k 9% above U.S. |
$382,000±$22kHighest 15% above U.S. |
| 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 22% below U.S. |
$1,149±$44 19% below U.S. |
$1,228±$81Highest 13% below U.S. |
$1,078±$161Lowest 24% below U.S. |
| Webster and Putnam 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. |
$3,860Lowest 24% above U.S. |
$3,999 28% above U.S. |
$4,387Highest 41% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.7%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.7%±6.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±10.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
11%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
63%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1954Lowest 26 yrs older than U.S. |
1961 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1962 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1968Highest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 16% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
31 min 16% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.3%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
8%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15%±7.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #128 of 149 in CT | #271 of 282 in MA | #261 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Gardner | Putnam School District | Webster | Spencer-E Brookfield |
| High school in town | Gardner High | Putnam High School | Bartlett High School | David Prouty High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
9.5Lowest |
11.6 |
9.9 |
| 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.