Compare towns
Gardner vs Thompson vs Webster vs Easthampton
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 oldest housing (typical home built 1954).
Thompson has the most homeowners (84.3%).
Webster has the youngest population (median age 39.9).
Easthampton has the most people working from home (19%).
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 | Easthampton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 21,148Highest |
9,337Lowest |
17,748 |
16,086 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 43.7±2.3 12% above U.S. |
54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S. |
39.9±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
46±2.6 18% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 18.3%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±2.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.5%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Webster and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.6%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.6%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.9%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Thompson and Easthampton 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
25.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
38%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% |
5.8%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Easthampton 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±$8kLowest 16% below U.S. |
$93,629±$18kHighest 16% above U.S. |
$72,895±$6k 10% below U.S. |
$71,673±$7k 11% 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. |
$361,500±$12k 9% above U.S. |
$371,500±$15kHighest 12% above U.S. |
| Easthampton and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,109±$51 22% below U.S. |
$1,012±$344Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,228±$81 13% below U.S. |
$1,292±$70Highest 9% below U.S. |
| Easthampton and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,150 33% above U.S. |
$3,822Lowest 23% above U.S. |
$3,999 28% above U.S. |
$4,932Highest 58% 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% |
45.7%±6.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
45.5%±10.7Lowest 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%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
58.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1954Lowest 26 yrs older than U.S. |
1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1962 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1966Highest 14 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 16% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
31 min 16% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 16% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.3%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
8%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±3.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Easthampton and Gardner 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 | #92 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Gardner | Thompson School District | Webster | Easthampton |
| High school in town | Gardner High | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | Bartlett High School | Easthampton High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
7.9Lowest |
11.6 |
9.8 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 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.