Compare towns
Gardner vs Springfield 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 people working from home (13.3%).
Springfield has the shortest commute (20 min average).
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 | Springfield | Webster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 21,148 |
154,749Highest |
12,228Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.2% MA: +7.4% |
+1.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±2.3Highest 9% above MA |
33.7±0.5Lowest 16% below MA |
37.2±2.1 7% below MA |
| Kids under 18 | 18.3%±2.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
24.2%±0.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.8%±3.6 MA: 19.4% |
| Springfield and Webster 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% |
13.2%±0.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
15.7%±2.5 MA: 17.9% |
| Gardner and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 23.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
20.5% MA: 47.3% |
18.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
7.5%±0.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
6%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
| Springfield 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±$8kHighest 35% below MA |
$52,656±$2kLowest 49% below MA |
$63,837±$8k 39% below MA |
| Gardner 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 46% below MA |
$245,000±$4kLowest 56% below MA |
$333,100±$14kHighest 41% below MA |
| Webster and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,109±$51Lowest 37% below MA |
$1,144±$55 35% below MA |
$1,198±$85Highest 32% below MA |
| Webster and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,150Highest 31% below MA |
$3,695 38% below MA |
$3,234Lowest 46% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.7%±8.6 MA: 51.8% |
57.7%±3.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
46.1%±7.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Springfield and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 13.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
25.8%Highest MA: 10% |
16% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
49.6% MA: 62.5% |
45.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1954Highest 10 yrs older than MA |
1952Lowest 12 yrs older than MA |
1954Highest 10 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 5% above MA |
20 minLowest 31% below MA |
28 min 5% below MA |
| Work from home | 13.3%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
8.4%±0.9 MA: 18.6% |
7.1%±2.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #273 of 282 in MA | #276 of 282 in MA | #271 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Gardner | Springfield | — |
| High school in town | Gardner High | Springfield Central High | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
12.2Lowest |
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| 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.