Compare towns
Gardner vs Reading 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 affordable homes ($302k median).
Reading has the most expensive homes ($809k median).
Webster has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
Spencer has the oldest population (median age 48.9).
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 | Reading | Webster | Spencer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 21,148 |
25,612Highest |
17,748 |
12,008Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.2% MA: +7.4% |
+3.1% MA: +7.4% |
+6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±2.3 9% above MA |
43.7±2.3 9% 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% |
22.8%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±2.9 MA: 19.4% |
16.4%±3.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Reading 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% |
20.7%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
19.6%±2.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
26%±4.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Spencer and Reading 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 MA: 47.3% |
66.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
25.3% MA: 47.3% |
29.1% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.7Lowest 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±$8kLowest 35% below MA |
$165,912±$13kHighest 60% above MA |
$72,895±$6k 30% below MA |
$80,533±$11k 23% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $301,600±$20kLowest 46% below MA |
$809,000±$22kHighest 44% above MA |
$361,500±$12k 36% below MA |
$382,000±$22k 32% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,109±$51 37% below MA |
$1,991±$273Highest 13% above MA |
$1,228±$81 30% below MA |
$1,078±$161Lowest 39% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,150 31% below MA |
$9,320Highest 56% above MA |
$3,999Lowest 33% below MA |
$4,387 27% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.7%±8.6 MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±9.1Lowest 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%Highest MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
12.7% MA: 10% |
11% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
82.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
59.8% MA: 62.5% |
63% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1954Lowest 10 yrs older than MA |
1960 4 yrs older 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 |
31 min 6% above MA |
31 minLowest 5% above MA |
34 minHighest 18% above MA |
| Work from home | 13.3%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
30.2%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
8%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
15%±7.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #273 of 282 in MA | #50 of 282 in MA | #271 of 282 in MA | #261 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Gardner | — | Webster | Spencer-E Brookfield |
| High school in town | Gardner High | — | Bartlett High School | David Prouty High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
— | 11.6 |
9.9Lowest |
| 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.