Compare towns
Gardner vs Sutton vs Webster vs Spencer
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).
Sutton has the highest household income ($147k).
Webster has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.9%).
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 | Sutton | Webster | Spencer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 21,148Highest |
9,452Lowest |
12,228 |
12,008 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.2% MA: +7.4% |
+4.4% MA: +7.4% |
+6.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±2.3 9% above MA |
44.3±2.5 11% above MA |
37.2±2.1Lowest 7% below MA |
48.9±6.8Highest 22% above MA |
| Spencer and Sutton 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% |
19.6%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
21.8%±3.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
16.4%±3.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Webster and Sutton 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% |
18.8%±3.2 MA: 17.9% |
15.7%±2.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
26%±4.4Highest 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% |
52.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
18.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
29.1% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6%±1.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.2%±2.4 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 |
$147,125±$25kHighest 42% above MA |
$63,837±$8kLowest 39% below MA |
$80,533±$11k 23% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $301,600±$20kLowest 46% below MA |
$523,100±$47kHighest 7% below MA |
$333,100±$14k 41% below MA |
$382,000±$22k 32% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,109±$51 37% below MA |
$1,190±$401 32% below MA |
$1,198±$85Highest 32% below MA |
$1,078±$161Lowest 39% below MA |
| Webster and Sutton 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 |
$6,763Highest 13% above MA |
$3,234Lowest 46% below MA |
$4,387 27% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.7%±8.6 MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4 MA: 51.8% |
46.1%±7.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
50.6%±10.3Highest 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% |
5.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
16%Highest MA: 10% |
11% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.9% MA: 62.5% |
89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
45.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
63% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1954Lowest 10 yrs older than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1954Lowest 10 yrs older than MA |
1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 5% above MA |
30 min about the MA average |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
34 minHighest 18% above MA |
| Work from home | 13.3%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
7.1%±2.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
15%±7.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Sutton and Spencer 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 | #105 of 282 in MA | #271 of 282 in MA | #261 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Gardner | Sutton | — | Spencer-E Brookfield |
| High school in town | Gardner High | Sutton High School | — | David Prouty High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
12.6 |
— | 9.9Lowest |
| 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.