Compare towns
Gardner vs Thompson vs Webster vs Webster
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Gardner has the most people working from home (13.3%).
Thompson has the most homeowners (84.3%).
Webster has the most renters (54.5% rent).
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 | Thompson | Webster | Webster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 21,148Highest |
9,337Lowest |
12,228 |
17,748 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +6.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±2.3 12% above U.S. |
54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S. |
37.2±2.1Lowest 4% below U.S. |
39.9±2.9 about the U.S. average |
| Kids under 18 | 18.3%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Webster and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.6%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.7%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.6%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Thompson 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
21.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
18.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
25.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Webster 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 16% below U.S. |
$93,629±$18kHighest 16% above U.S. |
$63,837±$8kLowest 21% below U.S. |
$72,895±$6k 10% below U.S. |
| Thompson 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 9% below U.S. |
$291,900±$24kLowest 12% below U.S. |
$333,100±$14k about the U.S. average |
$361,500±$12kHighest 9% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,109±$51 22% below U.S. |
$1,012±$344Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,198±$85 15% below U.S. |
$1,228±$81Highest 13% below U.S. |
| Webster and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,150Highest 33% above U.S. |
$3,822 23% above U.S. |
$3,234Lowest 4% above U.S. |
$3,999 28% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.7%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
54%±18.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.1%±7.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
45.7%±6.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Thompson and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 13.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
16%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
45.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1954Lowest 26 yrs older than U.S. |
1963Highest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1954Lowest 26 yrs older than U.S. |
1962 18 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 16% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
31 min 16% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.3%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.1%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
8%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Gardner and Thompson 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 | #130 of 149 in CT | #271 of 282 in MA | #271 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Gardner | Thompson School District | — | Webster |
| High school in town | Gardner High | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | — | Bartlett High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
7.9Lowest |
— | 11.6 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.