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 the most expensive homes ($362k median).
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 |
17,748Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.2% MA: +7.4% |
+1.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±2.3Highest 9% above MA |
33.7±0.5Lowest 16% below MA |
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%±2.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
24.2%±0.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±2.9 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 19.6%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
13.2%±0.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.6%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 23.8% MA: 47.3% |
20.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
25.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
7.5%±0.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.8%±1.6 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±$8k 35% below MA |
$52,656±$2kLowest 49% below MA |
$72,895±$6kHighest 30% below MA |
| Webster 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±$20k 46% below MA |
$245,000±$4kLowest 56% below MA |
$361,500±$12kHighest 36% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,109±$51Lowest 37% below MA |
$1,144±$55 35% below MA |
$1,228±$81Highest 30% 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 |
$3,695Lowest 38% below MA |
$3,999 33% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.7%±8.6 MA: 51.8% |
57.7%±3.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
45.7%±6.7Lowest 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% MA: 10% |
25.8%Highest MA: 10% |
12.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.9% MA: 62.5% |
49.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
59.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1954 10 yrs older than MA |
1952Lowest 12 yrs older than MA |
1962Highest 2 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 5% above MA |
20 minLowest 31% below MA |
31 minHighest 5% above MA |
| Work from home | 13.3%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
8.4%±0.9 MA: 18.6% |
8%±2.5Lowest 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 | Webster |
| High school in town | Gardner High | Springfield Central High | Bartlett High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
12.2 |
11.6Lowest |
| 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.