Compare towns
Gardner vs Sutton vs Webster vs Whitman
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 most people working from home (22.7%).
Webster has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
Whitman has the most kids (21.1% under 18).
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 | Whitman |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 21,148Highest |
9,452Lowest |
17,748 |
15,295 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.2% MA: +7.4% |
+4.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±2.3 9% above MA |
44.3±2.5Highest 11% above MA |
39.9±2.9Lowest about the MA average |
40.4±1.8 about the MA average |
| Sutton 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% |
19.6%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±2.9 MA: 19.4% |
21.1%±3.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Whitman and Sutton 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% |
18.8%±3.2 MA: 17.9% |
19.6%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
15.5%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 23.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
52.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
25.3% MA: 47.3% |
31.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.8%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
| Webster and Whitman 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 |
$147,125±$25kHighest 42% above MA |
$72,895±$6k 30% below MA |
$108,933±$14k 5% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $301,600±$20kLowest 46% below MA |
$523,100±$47kHighest 7% below MA |
$361,500±$12k 36% below MA |
$472,700±$12k 16% below MA |
| Sutton and Whitman 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 |
$1,190±$401 32% below MA |
$1,228±$81 30% below MA |
$1,771±$151Highest about the MA average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,150 31% below MA |
$6,763Highest 13% above MA |
$3,999Lowest 33% below MA |
$5,824 about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.7%±8.6 MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4 MA: 51.8% |
45.7%±6.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
61.9%±13.4Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Whitman 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% |
5.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
12.7% MA: 10% |
7.9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
59.8% MA: 62.5% |
71.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1954Lowest 10 yrs older than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1962 2 yrs older than MA |
1957 7 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 5% above MA |
30 minLowest about the MA average |
31 min 5% above MA |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
| Work from home | 13.3%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
8%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
10.8%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #273 of 282 in MA | #105 of 282 in MA | #271 of 282 in MA | #191 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Gardner | Sutton | Webster | Whitman-Hanson |
| High school in town | Gardner High | Sutton High School | Bartlett High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
12.6 |
11.6Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.