Compare towns
Gardner vs Salem 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 affordable homes ($302k median).
Salem has the most people working from home (21.6%).
Webster has the most kids (19.6% under 18).
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 | Salem | Webster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 21,148 |
44,795Highest |
17,748Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+7.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±2.3Highest 9% above MA |
39.3±1.5Lowest about the MA average |
39.9±2.9 about the MA average |
| Gardner and Webster 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% |
15.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±2.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Webster and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.6%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.2%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.6%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 23.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
47.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
25.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
8.2%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.8%±1.6 MA: 7.9% |
| Salem 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 35% below MA |
$85,153±$5kHighest 18% below MA |
$72,895±$6k 30% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $301,600±$20kLowest 46% below MA |
$542,800±$18kHighest 3% below MA |
$361,500±$12k 36% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,109±$51Lowest 37% below MA |
$1,836±$84Highest 4% above MA |
$1,228±$81 30% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,150 31% below MA |
$6,114Highest about the MA average |
$3,999Lowest 33% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.7%±8.6 MA: 51.8% |
54.9%±4.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
45.7%±6.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Salem 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% |
12.1%Lowest MA: 10% |
12.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.9% MA: 62.5% |
49.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
59.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1954 10 yrs older than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1962Highest 2 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 5% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
31 minHighest 5% above MA |
| Work from home | 13.3%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±2.5Highest MA: 18.6% |
8%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #273 of 282 in MA | #248 of 282 in MA | #271 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Gardner | Salem | Webster |
| High school in town | Gardner High | Salem High | Bartlett High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
9.8Lowest |
11.6 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.