Compare towns
South Ashburnham vs Webster vs Gardner
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
Bordering South AshburnhamAshburnham
What stands out worked out from the figures below
South Ashburnham has the highest household income ($126k).
Gardner has the most affordable homes ($302k median).
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 | South Ashburnham | Webster | Gardner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,500Lowest |
17,748 |
21,148Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6% MA: +7.4% |
+5.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.1±10.4Lowest 5% below MA |
39.9±2.9 about the MA average |
43.7±2.3Highest 9% above MA |
| Gardner and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.1%±8.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±2.9 MA: 19.4% |
18.3%±2.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| South Ashburnham and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 8.2%±4.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.6%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.6%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 27.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
25.3% MA: 47.3% |
23.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.2%±5.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.8%±1.6 MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| South Ashburnham and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $126,071±$42kHighest 21% above MA |
$72,895±$6k 30% below MA |
$67,518±$8kLowest 35% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $370,300±$56kHighest 34% below MA |
$361,500±$12k 36% below MA |
$301,600±$20kLowest 46% below MA |
| South Ashburnham and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,228±$81Highest 30% below MA |
$1,109±$51Lowest 37% below MA |
| Webster and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,896Highest 18% below MA |
$3,999Lowest 33% below MA |
$4,150 31% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±10.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
45.7%±6.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
49.7%±8.6 MA: 51.8% |
| Below poverty line | 6.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
12.7% MA: 10% |
13.7%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
59.8% MA: 62.5% |
58.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1960 4 yrs older than MA |
1962Highest 2 yrs older than MA |
1954Lowest 10 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest about the MA average |
31 minHighest 5% above MA |
31 minHighest 5% above MA |
| Work from home | 14.7%±18.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
8%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
13.3%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
| South Ashburnham 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 | — | #271 of 282 in MA | #273 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Webster | Gardner |
| High school in town | — | Bartlett High School | Gardner High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.6Lowest |
13.5Highest |
| 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.