Compare towns
Gardner vs Windsor vs Ashburnham vs Webster
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).
Windsor has the most people working from home (21.2%).
Ashburnham has the most kids (22.6% under 18).
Webster has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
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 | Windsor | Ashburnham | Webster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 21,148Highest |
1,065Lowest |
6,415 |
17,748 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.2% MA: +7.4% |
-7.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+3.8% MA: +7.4% |
+6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±2.3 9% above MA |
44.8±6.4Highest 12% above MA |
40.7±6.3 about the MA average |
39.9±2.9Lowest about the MA average |
| Windsor 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% |
15.8%±5.1Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.6%±6Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±2.9 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%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.6%±4.9 MA: 17.9% |
18.1%±4.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.6%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 23.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
41.5% MA: 47.3% |
44%Highest MA: 47.3% |
25.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
2.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
5.8%±1.6Highest 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 |
$115,563±$10k 11% above MA |
$118,809±$11kHighest 14% above MA |
$72,895±$6k 30% below MA |
| Ashburnham and Windsor 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 |
$389,700±$32k 31% below MA |
$390,700±$34kHighest 30% below MA |
$361,500±$12k 36% below MA |
| Ashburnham and Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,109±$51Lowest 37% below MA |
— | $1,807±$1kHighest about the MA average |
$1,228±$81 30% below MA |
| 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 |
$3,867Lowest 35% below MA |
$6,046Highest about the MA average |
$3,999 33% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.7%±8.6 MA: 51.8% |
0%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
45.7%±6.7 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% |
3.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
6.8% MA: 10% |
12.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
96.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
96% MA: 62.5% |
59.8% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1954Lowest 10 yrs older than MA |
1970 6 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1962 2 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minLowest 5% above MA |
37 minHighest 27% above MA |
32 min 10% above MA |
31 minLowest 5% above MA |
| Work from home | 13.3%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
21.2%±5.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
16%±7.7 MA: 18.6% |
8%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Windsor 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 | — | #178 of 282 in MA | #271 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Gardner | — | Ashburnham-Westminster | Webster |
| High school in town | Gardner High | — | None in town | Bartlett High School |
| 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.