Compare towns
Webster vs Athol vs Gardner
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Webster has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.9%).
Athol has the most homeowners (72.4%).
Gardner has the most people working from home (13.3%).
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 | Webster | Athol | Gardner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 12,228 |
12,011Lowest |
21,148Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+5.2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.2±2.1Lowest 7% below MA |
41.3±1.9 3% above MA |
43.7±2.3Highest 9% above MA |
| Gardner and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.8%±3.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.8%±3.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.3%±2.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 15.7%±2.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.3%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
19.6%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Gardner and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 18.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
20.4% MA: 47.3% |
23.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6%±1.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.6%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.3 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 | $63,837±$8kLowest 39% below MA |
$69,316±$5kHighest 33% below MA |
$67,518±$8k 35% below MA |
| Athol and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $333,100±$14kHighest 41% below MA |
$268,100±$13kLowest 52% below MA |
$301,600±$20k 46% below MA |
| Webster and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,198±$85Highest 32% below MA |
$1,150±$182 35% below MA |
$1,109±$51Lowest 37% below MA |
| Webster and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,234Lowest 46% below MA |
$3,403 43% below MA |
$4,150Highest 31% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.1%±7.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
57.5%±17.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
49.7%±8.6 MA: 51.8% |
| Athol and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 16% MA: 10% |
16.3%Highest MA: 10% |
13.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 45.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
72.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
58.9% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1954Highest 10 yrs older than MA |
1953Lowest 11 yrs older than MA |
1954Highest 10 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% below MA |
27 minLowest 8% below MA |
31 minHighest 5% above MA |
| Work from home | 7.1%±2.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
10.6%±3.3 MA: 18.6% |
13.3%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Gardner and Athol 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 | #256 of 282 in MA | #273 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Athol-Royalston | Gardner |
| High school in town | — | Athol High | 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.