Compare towns
Webster vs Chaplin vs Gardner vs Clinton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Webster has the most kids (21.8% under 18).
Chaplin has the most homeowners (82.9%).
Clinton has the most expensive homes ($387k 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 | Webster | Chaplin | Gardner | Clinton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 12,228 |
2,070Lowest |
21,148Highest |
15,563 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +5.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+13.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.2±2.1Lowest 4% below U.S. |
43.7±4.8Highest 12% above U.S. |
43.7±2.3Highest 12% above U.S. |
38.6±2.7 about the U.S. average |
| Kids under 18 | 21.8%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.7%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.3%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
17.8%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Webster and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 15.7%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.9%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.6%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Chaplin and Gardner 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
25.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
23.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
36.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
10.1%±6.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Chaplin and Clinton 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 21% below U.S. |
$97,846±$14kHighest 21% above U.S. |
$67,518±$8k 16% below U.S. |
$89,781±$10k 11% above U.S. |
| Chaplin and Clinton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $333,100±$14k about the U.S. average |
$255,200±$24kLowest 23% below U.S. |
$301,600±$20k 9% below U.S. |
$387,300±$19kHighest 16% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,198±$85 15% below U.S. |
$1,473±$275Highest 4% above U.S. |
$1,109±$51Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,402±$76 about the U.S. average |
| Chaplin and Clinton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,234Lowest 4% above U.S. |
$4,524 45% above U.S. |
$4,150 33% above U.S. |
$4,654Highest 49% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.1%±7.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
33.6%±27.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
49.7%±8.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40.3%±6.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Gardner and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 16%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
13.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 45.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
58.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
54.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1954Lowest 26 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1954Lowest 26 yrs older than U.S. |
1956 24 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
31 min 16% above U.S. |
30 min 13% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 7.1%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±10Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.2%±4.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Chaplin and Clinton 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 | #246 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 | Gardner | Clinton |
| High school in town | — | Parish Hill High School | Gardner High | Clinton Senior High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 7.5Lowest |
13.5Highest |
12.8 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.