Compare towns
Gardner vs Webster vs Ware vs Templeton
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.9%).
Ware has the most affordable homes ($290k median).
Templeton has the highest household income ($101k).
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 | Ware | Templeton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 21,148Highest |
12,228 |
10,048 |
8,252Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.2% MA: +7.4% |
+6.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2% MA: +7.4% |
+1.7%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±2.3Highest 9% above MA |
37.2±2.1Lowest 7% below MA |
43.1±4.7 8% above MA |
40.3±5.1 about the MA average |
| 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% |
21.8%±3.6 MA: 19.4% |
19.1%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
22.9%±5.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Templeton 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% |
15.7%±2.5 MA: 17.9% |
20.6%±3.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
14.7%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Ware and Gardner 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% |
24% MA: 47.3% |
26.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
6%±1.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
3.4%±1.6Lowest 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 |
$63,837±$8kLowest 39% below MA |
$67,475±$15k 35% below MA |
$101,154±$15kHighest about the MA average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $301,600±$20k 46% below MA |
$333,100±$14k 41% below MA |
$289,700±$28kLowest 48% below MA |
$358,500±$12kHighest 36% below MA |
| Templeton and Webster 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 |
$1,198±$85 32% below MA |
$1,043±$109Lowest 41% below MA |
$1,207±$353Highest 31% below MA |
| Templeton and Webster 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 |
$3,234Lowest 46% below MA |
$4,237 29% below MA |
$4,554Highest 24% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.7%±8.6 MA: 51.8% |
46.1%±7.4 MA: 51.8% |
64.3%±16.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
44.7%±26.1Lowest 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% |
16%Highest MA: 10% |
11.8% MA: 10% |
10.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.9% MA: 62.5% |
45.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
72.3% MA: 62.5% |
85.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1954Lowest 10 yrs older than MA |
1954Lowest 10 yrs older than MA |
1960 4 yrs older than MA |
1972Highest 8 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 5% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
28 min about the MA average |
28 min 5% below MA |
| Work from home | 13.3%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
7.1%±2.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
16.9%±5.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Templeton 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 | #267 of 282 in MA | #244 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Gardner | — | Ware | Narragansett |
| High school in town | Gardner High | — | Ware Junior/Senior High School | Narragansett Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
— | 11.1Lowest |
12.2 |
| 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.