What stands out worked out from the figures below

Gardner has the most people working from home (13.3%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Gardner	Webster
People
Population	21,148Highest	12,228Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.2%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+6.9%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	43.7±2.3Highest 9% above MA	37.2±2.1Lowest 7% below MA
Kids under 18	18.3%±2.3Lowest MA: 19.4%	21.8%±3.6Highest MA: 19.4%
	Webster and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19.6%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9%	15.7%±2.5Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Gardner and Webster 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%	18.8%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.6%±1.3Lowest 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	$63,837±$8kLowest 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±$20kLowest 46% 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±$51Lowest 37% 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	$3,234Lowest 46% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	49.7%±8.6Highest MA: 51.8%	46.1%±7.4Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Gardner and Webster 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%	16%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	58.9%Highest MA: 62.5%	45.5%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1954 10 yrs older than MA	1954 10 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minHighest 5% above MA	28 minLowest 5% below MA
Work from home	13.3%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6%	7.1%±2.9Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Gardner and Webster 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	—
High school in town	Gardner High	—
Students per teacherat that high school	13.5	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.