Compare towns
Gardner vs Webster vs Wilton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Gardner has the most affordable homes ($302k median).
Webster has the youngest population (median age 39.9).
Wilton has the highest household income ($114k).
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 | Wilton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 21,148Highest |
17,748 |
3,960Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±2.3 12% above U.S. |
39.9±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
46.8±5.2Highest 20% above U.S. |
| Wilton and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.3%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±2.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.7%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Webster and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.6%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.6%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22%±6.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wilton 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
25.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
36.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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±$8kLowest 16% below U.S. |
$72,895±$6k 10% below U.S. |
$114,349±$21kHighest 42% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $301,600±$20kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$361,500±$12k 9% above U.S. |
$381,500±$23kHighest 15% above U.S. |
| Wilton and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,109±$51Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,228±$81 13% below U.S. |
$1,382±$70Highest about the U.S. average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,150 33% above U.S. |
$3,999Lowest 28% above U.S. |
$7,612Highest 144% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.7%±8.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.7%±6.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.1%±39.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Gardner and Wilton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 13.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
77%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1954Lowest 26 yrs older than U.S. |
1962 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Highest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 16% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 16% above U.S. |
30 minLowest 14% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.3%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
8%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.7%±5.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Wilton 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 | #54 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Gardner | Webster | Wilton-Lyndeborough Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | Gardner High | Bartlett High School | Wilton-Lyndeboro Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
11.6 |
9.1Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.