Compare towns
Gardner vs Whately vs Webster vs Ashburnham
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).
Whately has the most people working from home (20.4%).
Webster has the youngest population (median age 39.9).
Ashburnham has the most kids (22.6% under 18).
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 | Whately | Webster | Ashburnham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 21,148Highest |
1,499Lowest |
17,748 |
6,415 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.2% MA: +7.4% |
+7.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6% MA: +7.4% |
+3.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±2.3 9% above MA |
49.3±6.7Highest 23% above MA |
39.9±2.9Lowest about the MA average |
40.7±6.3 about the MA average |
| Whately 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 MA: 19.4% |
16.4%±3.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±2.9 MA: 19.4% |
22.6%±6Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Ashburnham 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% |
24.5%±6.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.6%±2.5 MA: 17.9% |
18.1%±4.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Whately 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% |
47.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
25.3% MA: 47.3% |
44% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
2.5%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.8%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
| Webster and Ashburnham 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 |
$116,563±$15k 12% above MA |
$72,895±$6k 30% below MA |
$118,809±$11kHighest 14% above MA |
| Ashburnham and Whately are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $301,600±$20kLowest 46% below MA |
$431,500±$22kHighest 23% below MA |
$361,500±$12k 36% below MA |
$390,700±$34k 30% below MA |
| Whately and Ashburnham 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 |
$977±$125Lowest 45% below MA |
$1,228±$81 30% below MA |
$1,807±$1kHighest about the MA average |
| Ashburnham 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 |
$5,027 16% below MA |
$3,999Lowest 33% below MA |
$6,046Highest about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.7%±8.6 MA: 51.8% |
26.7%±29Lowest MA: 51.8% |
45.7%±6.7 MA: 51.8% |
100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Ashburnham 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% |
5.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
12.7% MA: 10% |
6.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
88.2% MA: 62.5% |
59.8% MA: 62.5% |
96%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1954Lowest 10 yrs older than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1962 2 yrs older than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 5% above MA |
23 minLowest 21% below MA |
31 min 5% above MA |
32 minHighest 10% above MA |
| Work from home | 13.3%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
20.4%±8.5Highest MA: 18.6% |
8%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
16%±7.7 MA: 18.6% |
| Whately and Ashburnham 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 | #178 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Gardner | Whately | Webster | Ashburnham-Westminster |
| High school in town | Gardner High | None in town | Bartlett High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
— | 11.6Lowest |
— |
| 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.