Compare towns
Gardner vs Sturbridge vs Webster vs Ashburnham
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).
Sturbridge has the most people working from home (19.8%).
Webster has the youngest population (median age 39.9).
Ashburnham has the most homeowners (96%).
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 | Sturbridge | Webster | Ashburnham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 21,148Highest |
9,960 |
17,748 |
6,415Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.2% MA: +7.4% |
+6.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6% MA: +7.4% |
+3.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±2.3 9% above MA |
47.2±2.6Highest 18% above MA |
39.9±2.9Lowest about the MA average |
40.7±6.3 about the MA average |
| Sturbridge and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.3%±2.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.7%±3 MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±2.9 MA: 19.4% |
22.6%±6Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Ashburnham and Sturbridge 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% |
19.8%±3Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.6%±2.5 MA: 17.9% |
18.1%±4.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Sturbridge 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%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
49.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
25.3% MA: 47.3% |
44% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.8%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
| Webster and Ashburnham 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 |
$136,759±$15kHighest 32% above MA |
$72,895±$6k 30% below MA |
$118,809±$11k 14% above MA |
| Sturbridge and Ashburnham 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 |
$425,800±$18kHighest 24% below MA |
$361,500±$12k 36% below MA |
$390,700±$34k 30% below MA |
| Sturbridge and Ashburnham 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 |
$1,193±$398 32% below MA |
$1,228±$81 30% below MA |
$1,807±$1kHighest about the MA average |
| Ashburnham and Webster 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 |
$6,520Highest 9% above MA |
$3,999Lowest 33% below MA |
$6,046 about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.7%±8.6 MA: 51.8% |
42%±17.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
45.7%±6.7 MA: 51.8% |
100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Ashburnham 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% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
12.7% MA: 10% |
6.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.3% MA: 62.5% |
59.8% MA: 62.5% |
96%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1954Lowest 10 yrs older than MA |
1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA |
1962 2 yrs older than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minLowest 5% above MA |
38 minHighest 30% above MA |
31 minLowest 5% above MA |
32 min 10% above MA |
| Work from home | 13.3%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
19.8%±4.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
8%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
16%±7.7 MA: 18.6% |
| Sturbridge and Ashburnham 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 | #89 of 282 in MA | #271 of 282 in MA | #178 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Gardner | Sturbridge · Tantasqua | Webster | Ashburnham-Westminster |
| High school in town | Gardner High | Tantasqua Regional Sr High | Bartlett High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
7.7Lowest |
11.6 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.