Compare towns
Gardner vs Ware vs Webster
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 oldest population (median age 43.7).
Ware has the most people working from home (16.6%).
Webster has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.9%).
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 | Ware | Webster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 21,148Highest |
6,369Lowest |
12,228 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.2% MA: +7.4% |
+1.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±2.3Highest 9% above MA |
39.8±6 about the MA average |
37.2±2.1Lowest 7% below MA |
| Gardner and Ware 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% |
23.3%±4.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.8%±3.6 MA: 19.4% |
| Ware and Webster 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% |
17.4%±3.9 MA: 17.9% |
15.7%±2.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Gardner and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 23.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
15.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
18.8% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6%±1.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
| 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±$8kHighest 35% below MA |
$45,158±$11kLowest 57% below MA |
$63,837±$8k 39% below MA |
| Gardner 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 46% below MA |
$253,400±$31kLowest 55% below MA |
$333,100±$14kHighest 41% below MA |
| Webster and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,109±$51 37% below MA |
$1,039±$104Lowest 41% below MA |
$1,198±$85Highest 32% below MA |
| Webster and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,150Highest 31% below MA |
$3,408 43% below MA |
$3,234Lowest 46% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.7%±8.6 MA: 51.8% |
64.5%±17.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
46.1%±7.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Ware and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 13.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
14.1% MA: 10% |
16%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
57.4% MA: 62.5% |
45.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1954Highest 10 yrs older than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1954Highest 10 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 5% above MA |
27 minLowest 9% below MA |
28 min 5% below MA |
| Work from home | 13.3%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
16.6%±5Highest MA: 18.6% |
7.1%±2.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Ware 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 | #267 of 282 in MA | #271 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Gardner | — | — |
| High school in town | Gardner High | — | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.