Compare towns
Gardner vs Worcester 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).
Worcester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.1%).
Webster has the highest household income ($73k).
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 | Worcester | Webster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 21,148 |
207,055Highest |
17,748Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+14.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±2.3Highest 9% above MA |
33.9±0.5Lowest 15% below MA |
39.9±2.9 about the MA average |
| Gardner and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.3%±2.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±0.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±2.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 19.6%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
13.3%±0.6Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.6%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 23.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
35.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
25.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
14.1%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.8%±1.6 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $67,518±$8kLowest 35% below MA |
$70,102±$2k 33% below MA |
$72,895±$6kHighest 30% below MA |
| Webster and Worcester 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 |
$374,400±$7kHighest 33% below MA |
$361,500±$12k 36% below MA |
| Worcester 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 |
$1,487±$38Highest 16% below MA |
$1,228±$81 30% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,150 31% below MA |
$4,733Highest 21% below MA |
$3,999Lowest 33% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.7%±8.6 MA: 51.8% |
54.2%±2.9Highest MA: 51.8% |
45.7%±6.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Worcester and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 13.7% MA: 10% |
19.6%Highest MA: 10% |
12.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.9% MA: 62.5% |
42.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
59.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1954 10 yrs older than MA |
1951Lowest 13 yrs older than MA |
1962Highest 2 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 5% above MA |
24 minLowest 17% below MA |
31 minHighest 5% above MA |
| Work from home | 13.3%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
11.5%±1 MA: 18.6% |
8%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Gardner and Worcester 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 | #266 of 282 in MA | #271 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Gardner | Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester | Webster |
| High school in town | Gardner High | South High Community | Bartlett High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5 |
14.6Highest |
11.6Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.