Compare towns
Gardner vs Wareham vs Ashburnham 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 most affordable homes ($302k median).
Wareham has the oldest population (median age 52.1).
Ashburnham has the highest household income ($119k).
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 | Wareham | Ashburnham | Webster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 21,148 |
23,302Highest |
6,415Lowest |
17,748 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.2% MA: +7.4% |
+6.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±2.3 9% above MA |
52.1±3.1Highest 30% above MA |
40.7±6.3 about the MA average |
39.9±2.9Lowest about the MA average |
| Kids under 18 | 18.3%±2.3 MA: 19.4% |
13.1%±2.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.6%±6Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±2.9 MA: 19.4% |
| Ashburnham and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.6%±2.2 MA: 17.9% |
26.2%±3.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.1%±4.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.6%±2.5 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 23.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
27.1% MA: 47.3% |
44%Highest MA: 47.3% |
25.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
5.8%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Webster and Wareham 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 35% below MA |
$90,383±$11k 13% below MA |
$118,809±$11kHighest 14% above MA |
$72,895±$6k 30% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $301,600±$20kLowest 46% below MA |
$424,500±$21kHighest 24% below MA |
$390,700±$34k 30% below MA |
$361,500±$12k 36% below MA |
| Wareham and Ashburnham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,109±$51Lowest 37% below MA |
$1,504±$180 15% below MA |
$1,807±$1kHighest about the MA average |
$1,228±$81 30% below MA |
| Ashburnham and Wareham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,150 31% below MA |
$4,341 28% below MA |
$6,046Highest about the MA average |
$3,999Lowest 33% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.7%±8.6 MA: 51.8% |
51.4%±23.3 MA: 51.8% |
100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
45.7%±6.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Ashburnham and Wareham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 13.7%Highest MA: 10% |
6.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
6.8% MA: 10% |
12.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.5% MA: 62.5% |
96%Highest MA: 62.5% |
59.8% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1954Lowest 10 yrs older than MA |
1958 6 yrs older than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1962 2 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 5% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
32 minHighest 10% above MA |
31 min 5% above MA |
| Work from home | 13.3%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
12.4%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
16%±7.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
8%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Ashburnham 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 | #272 of 282 in MA | #178 of 282 in MA | #271 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Gardner | Wareham | Ashburnham-Westminster | Webster |
| High school in town | Gardner High | Wareham Senior High | None in town | Bartlett High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
8.6Lowest |
— | 11.6 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.