Compare towns
Gardner vs Windsor vs Webster vs Templeton
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%).
Webster has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
Templeton has the most kids (22.9% 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 | Windsor | Webster | Templeton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 21,148Highest |
1,065Lowest |
17,748 |
8,252 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.2% MA: +7.4% |
-7.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+1.7% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±2.3 9% above MA |
44.8±6.4Highest 12% above MA |
39.9±2.9Lowest about the MA average |
40.3±5.1 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% |
19.6%±2.9 MA: 19.4% |
22.9%±5.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Templeton 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% |
19.6%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
14.7%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 23.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
41.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
25.3% MA: 47.3% |
26.9% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
2.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.8%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.4%±1.6 MA: 7.9% |
| 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 35% below MA |
$115,563±$10kHighest 11% above MA |
$72,895±$6k 30% below MA |
$101,154±$15k about the MA average |
| Windsor and Templeton 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±$32kHighest 31% below MA |
$361,500±$12k 36% below MA |
$358,500±$12k 36% below MA |
| Windsor 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 37% below MA |
— | $1,228±$81Highest 30% below MA |
$1,207±$353 31% below MA |
| Webster and Templeton 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 |
$3,999 33% below MA |
$4,554Highest 24% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.7%±8.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
0%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
45.7%±6.7 MA: 51.8% |
44.7%±26.1 MA: 51.8% |
| Gardner and Webster 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% |
12.7% MA: 10% |
10.6% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
96.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
59.8% MA: 62.5% |
85.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1954Lowest 10 yrs older than MA |
1970 6 yrs newer than MA |
1962 2 yrs older than MA |
1972Highest 8 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 5% above MA |
37 minHighest 27% above MA |
31 min 5% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
| Work from home | 13.3%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
21.2%±5.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
8%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
16.9%±5.1 MA: 18.6% |
| Windsor and Templeton 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 | #244 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Gardner | — | Webster | Narragansett |
| High school in town | Gardner High | — | Bartlett High School | Narragansett Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
— | 11.6Lowest |
12.2 |
| 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.