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 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 | Ware | Webster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 21,148Highest |
6,369Lowest |
17,748 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.2% MA: +7.4% |
+1.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±2.3Highest 9% above MA |
39.8±6Lowest about the MA average |
39.9±2.9 about the MA average |
| Gardner and Webster 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% |
19.6%±2.9 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%±3.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.6%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 23.8% MA: 47.3% |
15.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
25.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.8%±1.6Highest 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±$8k 35% below MA |
$45,158±$11kLowest 57% below MA |
$72,895±$6kHighest 30% below MA |
| Webster 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±$20k 46% below MA |
$253,400±$31kLowest 55% below MA |
$361,500±$12kHighest 36% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,109±$51 37% below MA |
$1,039±$104Lowest 41% below MA |
$1,228±$81Highest 30% 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 |
$3,408Lowest 43% below MA |
$3,999 33% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.7%±8.6 MA: 51.8% |
64.5%±17.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
45.7%±6.7Lowest 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% MA: 10% |
14.1%Highest MA: 10% |
12.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.9% MA: 62.5% |
57.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
59.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1954 10 yrs older than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1962Highest 2 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 5% above MA |
27 minLowest 9% below MA |
31 minHighest 5% above MA |
| Work from home | 13.3%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
16.6%±5Highest MA: 18.6% |
8%±2.5Lowest 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 | — | Webster |
| High school in town | Gardner High | — | Bartlett High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
— | 11.6Lowest |
| 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.