Compare towns
Gardner vs Webster vs Clinton
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).
Webster has the most kids (21.8% under 18).
Clinton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13.4%).
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 | Webster | Clinton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 21,148Highest |
12,228Lowest |
15,563 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.9% MA: +7.4% |
+13.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±2.3Highest 9% above MA |
37.2±2.1Lowest 7% below MA |
38.6±2.7 4% below MA |
| Kids under 18 | 18.3%±2.3 MA: 19.4% |
21.8%±3.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
17.8%±2.5Lowest 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%±2.5 MA: 17.9% |
14.5%±2.8Lowest 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% MA: 47.3% |
18.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
36.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
6.9%±2Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Clinton and Webster 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 |
$63,837±$8kLowest 39% below MA |
$89,781±$10kHighest 14% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $301,600±$20kLowest 46% below MA |
$333,100±$14k 41% below MA |
$387,300±$19kHighest 31% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,109±$51Lowest 37% below MA |
$1,198±$85 32% below MA |
$1,402±$76Highest 20% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,150 31% below MA |
$3,234Lowest 46% below MA |
$4,654Highest 22% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.7%±8.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
46.1%±7.4 MA: 51.8% |
40.3%±6.4Lowest 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% MA: 10% |
16%Highest MA: 10% |
8.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
45.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
54.7% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1954Lowest 10 yrs older than MA |
1954Lowest 10 yrs older than MA |
1956Highest 8 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 5% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
30 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 13.3%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
7.1%±2.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
14.2%±4.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Clinton 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 | #271 of 282 in MA | #246 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Gardner | — | Clinton |
| High school in town | Gardner High | — | Clinton Senior High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
— | 12.8Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.