Compare towns
Gardner vs Spencer 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).
Spencer has the highest household income ($81k).
Webster has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.9%).
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 | Spencer | Webster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 21,148Highest |
12,008Lowest |
12,228 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.2% MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±2.3 9% above MA |
48.9±6.8Highest 22% above MA |
37.2±2.1Lowest 7% below 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% |
16.4%±3.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.8%±3.6Highest 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%±2.2 MA: 17.9% |
26%±4.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
15.7%±2.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| 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% MA: 47.3% |
29.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
18.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.2%±2.4 MA: 7.9% |
6%±1.8Highest 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±$8k 35% below MA |
$80,533±$11kHighest 23% below MA |
$63,837±$8kLowest 39% below MA |
| Spencer and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $301,600±$20kLowest 46% below MA |
$382,000±$22kHighest 32% below MA |
$333,100±$14k 41% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,109±$51 37% below MA |
$1,078±$161Lowest 39% below MA |
$1,198±$85Highest 32% below MA |
| 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 31% below MA |
$4,387Highest 27% below MA |
$3,234Lowest 46% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.7%±8.6 MA: 51.8% |
50.6%±10.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
46.1%±7.4Lowest 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% MA: 10% |
11%Lowest MA: 10% |
16%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.9% MA: 62.5% |
63%Highest MA: 62.5% |
45.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1954Lowest 10 yrs older than MA |
1968Highest 4 yrs newer than MA |
1954Lowest 10 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 5% above MA |
34 minHighest 18% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
| Work from home | 13.3%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
15%±7.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
7.1%±2.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| 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 | #261 of 282 in MA | #271 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Gardner | Spencer-E Brookfield | — |
| High school in town | Gardner High | David Prouty High | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
9.9Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.