Compare towns
Gardner vs Union 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%).
Union has the most homeowners (92.9%).
Webster has the most renters (54.5% rent).
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 | Union | Webster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 21,148Highest |
944Lowest |
12,228 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +6.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±2.3 12% above U.S. |
49.9±4.3Highest 28% above U.S. |
37.2±2.1Lowest 4% below U.S. |
| Union and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.3%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±3.6Highest 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% |
24.5%±2.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.7%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 23.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
24%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
18.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±3.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
6%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Webster and Union 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. |
$88,958±$14kHighest 10% above U.S. |
$63,837±$8kLowest 21% below U.S. |
| Union and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $301,600±$20kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$330,400±$26k about the U.S. average |
$333,100±$14kHighest about the U.S. average |
| Webster and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,109±$51Lowest 22% below U.S. |
— | $1,198±$85Highest 15% 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. |
$4,793Highest 54% above U.S. |
$3,234Lowest 4% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.7%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
90%±64.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.1%±7.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Union 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% |
5.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
16%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
45.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1954Lowest 26 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1954Lowest 26 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. |
| Work from home | 13.3%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.1%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Gardner and Union 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 | Union School District | — |
| High school in town | Gardner High | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.