Compare towns
Gardner vs Townshend vs Windham 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 renters (41.1% rent).
Townshend has the most people working from home (28%).
Windham has the highest household income ($95k).
Webster has the youngest population (median age 39.9).
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 | Townshend | Windham | Webster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 21,148Highest |
1,538 |
594Lowest |
17,748 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±2.3 12% above U.S. |
55.6±9.6Highest 43% above U.S. |
44.2±7.4 14% above U.S. |
39.9±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Townshend and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.3%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
12%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.5%±7.9 U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±2.9Highest 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%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.3%±6.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.2%±8.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.6%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Windham 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
52.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
25.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.4%±0.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Webster and Gardner 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. |
$78,750±$29k about the U.S. average |
$94,500±$12kHighest 17% above U.S. |
$72,895±$6k 10% below U.S. |
| Windham and Townshend 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. |
$287,200±$79kLowest 14% below U.S. |
$353,900±$20k 6% above U.S. |
$361,500±$12kHighest 9% above U.S. |
| Webster and Windham 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. |
$1,074±$80Lowest 24% below U.S. |
— | $1,228±$81Highest 13% below U.S. |
| Webster and Gardner 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. |
$5,364 72% above U.S. |
$5,951Highest 91% above U.S. |
$3,999Lowest 28% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.7%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
72.5%±23.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.2%±94Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.7%±6.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Townshend 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% |
8.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1954Lowest 26 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1962 18 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 16% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 5% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
31 minHighest 16% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.3%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
28%±18.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.5%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
8%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Townshend and Windham 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 | — | — | #271 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Gardner | West River Valley Union Education District #72B · West River Valley Union Education District #72A | — | Webster |
| High school in town | Gardner High | Leland & Gray Union Middle & High School | — | Bartlett High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
8.1Lowest |
— | 11.6 |
| 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.