Compare towns
Gardner vs Smithfield 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 affordable homes ($302k median).
Smithfield has the most homeowners (81.6%).
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 | Smithfield | Webster | Spencer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 21,148 |
22,233Highest |
17,748 |
12,008Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2% 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. |
41.8±2.6 7% 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% |
16.9%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±2.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.4%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Webster and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.6%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.1%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.6%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Spencer and Smithfield 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% |
40%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
25.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
29.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
16.7%±0.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $67,518±$8kLowest 16% below U.S. |
$102,077±$8kHighest 26% above U.S. |
$72,895±$6k 10% below U.S. |
$80,533±$11k about the U.S. average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $301,600±$20kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$446,400±$12kHighest 34% above U.S. |
$361,500±$12k 9% above U.S. |
$382,000±$22k 15% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,109±$51 22% below U.S. |
$1,016±$241Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,228±$81Highest 13% below U.S. |
$1,078±$161 24% below U.S. |
| Webster and Gardner 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. |
$5,207Highest 67% above U.S. |
$3,999Lowest 28% above U.S. |
$4,387 41% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.7%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±17.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.7%±6.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±10.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Smithfield and Spencer 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% |
6.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
11% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
63% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1954Lowest 26 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1962 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 16% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 7% 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% |
14%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
8%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15%±7.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Spencer and Smithfield 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 | #8 of 38 in RI | #271 of 282 in MA | #261 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Gardner | Smithfield | Webster | Spencer-E Brookfield |
| High school in town | Gardner High | Smithfield High School | Bartlett High School | David Prouty High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
11.8 |
11.6 |
9.9Lowest |
| 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.