Compare towns
Gardner vs Webster vs Woonsocket vs Easthampton
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 highest household income ($73k).
Woonsocket has the most renters (62.8% rent).
Easthampton has the most people working from home (19%).
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 | Woonsocket | Easthampton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 21,148 |
17,748 |
43,521Highest |
16,086Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 43.7±2.3 12% above U.S. |
39.9±2.9 about the U.S. average |
35.7±1.3Lowest 8% below U.S. |
46±2.6Highest 18% above U.S. |
| Easthampton 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%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
23.3%±2Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.5%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Woonsocket 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.6%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.7%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.9%±3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Easthampton 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
25.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
19.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
38%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Easthampton 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 16% below U.S. |
$72,895±$6kHighest 10% below U.S. |
$61,059±$5kLowest 24% below U.S. |
$71,673±$7k 11% below U.S. |
| Webster and Easthampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $301,600±$20kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$361,500±$12k 9% above U.S. |
$311,000±$15k 7% below U.S. |
$371,500±$15kHighest 12% above U.S. |
| Easthampton 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. |
$1,161±$48 18% below U.S. |
$1,292±$70Highest 9% below U.S. |
| Easthampton and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,150 33% above U.S. |
$3,999 28% above U.S. |
$3,960Lowest 27% above U.S. |
$4,932Highest 58% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.7%±8.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.7%±6.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
46.7%±5.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
45.5%±10.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Gardner and Woonsocket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 13.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
18.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
37.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
58.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1954 26 yrs older than U.S. |
1962 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1952Lowest 28 yrs older than U.S. |
1966Highest 14 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 16% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 16% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 16% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.3%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
8%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.4%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±3.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Easthampton 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 | #37 of 38 in RI | #92 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Gardner | Webster | RISE Prep Mayoral Academy · Woonsocket | Easthampton |
| High school in town | Gardner High | Bartlett High School | Woonsocket High School | Easthampton High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5 |
11.6 |
15.2Highest |
9.8Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.