Compare towns
Gardner vs Webster vs Wilbraham
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).
Webster has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
Wilbraham has the highest household income ($122k).
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 | Wilbraham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 21,148Highest |
17,748 |
14,572Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.2% MA: +7.4% |
+6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±2.3 9% above MA |
39.9±2.9Lowest about the MA average |
44.3±2.7Highest 11% above MA |
| Wilbraham and Gardner 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% |
19.6%±2.9 MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±3.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Wilbraham and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.6%±2.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.6%±2.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
23%±3.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Wilbraham 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%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
25.3% MA: 47.3% |
51.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.8%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.2%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
| Webster and Wilbraham 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 |
$72,895±$6k 30% below MA |
$122,051±$14kHighest 17% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $301,600±$20kLowest 46% below MA |
$361,500±$12k 36% below MA |
$416,000±$25kHighest 26% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,109±$51Lowest 37% below MA |
$1,228±$81Highest 30% below MA |
$1,175±$241 33% below MA |
| Webster and Wilbraham 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 |
$3,999Lowest 33% below MA |
$6,658Highest 11% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.7%±8.6 MA: 51.8% |
45.7%±6.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
53.1%±23.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Wilbraham and Gardner 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% |
12.7% MA: 10% |
4.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
59.8% MA: 62.5% |
88.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1954Lowest 10 yrs older than MA |
1962 2 yrs older than MA |
1966Highest 2 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 5% above MA |
31 minHighest 5% above MA |
27 minLowest 9% below MA |
| Work from home | 13.3%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
8%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
12.9%±3.1 MA: 18.6% |
| Gardner and Wilbraham 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 | #88 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Gardner | Webster | Hampden-Wilbraham |
| High school in town | Gardner High | Bartlett High School | Minnechaug Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5 |
11.6Lowest |
14.2Highest |
| 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.