Compare towns
Webster vs Colebrook 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).
Colebrook has the most homeowners (91.6%).
Gardner has the most affordable homes ($302k median).
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 | Colebrook | Gardner | Clinton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 12,228 |
1,494Lowest |
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. |
52.1±5Highest 34% above U.S. |
43.7±2.3 12% above U.S. |
38.6±2.7 about the U.S. average |
| Kids under 18 | 21.8%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.9%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
18.3%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
17.8%±2.5Lowest 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% |
26%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.6%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Colebrook 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% |
36.6%Highest 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% |
5.4%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Clinton and Webster 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. |
$111,250±$17kHighest 38% above U.S. |
$67,518±$8k 16% below U.S. |
$89,781±$10k 11% above U.S. |
| Colebrook 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 |
$342,800±$19k 3% above U.S. |
$301,600±$20kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$387,300±$19kHighest 16% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,198±$85 15% below U.S. |
$1,333±$626 6% below U.S. |
$1,109±$51Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,402±$76Highest about the U.S. average |
| Clinton and Colebrook 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. |
$6,211Highest 99% above U.S. |
$4,150 33% above U.S. |
$4,654 49% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.1%±7.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
42.1%±55 U.S.: 51.1% |
49.7%±8.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40.3%±6.4Lowest 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% |
8.3%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% |
91.6%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. |
1960Highest 20 yrs 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. |
34 minHighest 29% above U.S. |
31 min 16% above U.S. |
30 min 13% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 7.1%±2.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
7%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.2%±4.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Clinton 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 | #246 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Colebrook School District | Gardner | Clinton |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Gardner High | Clinton Senior High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 13.5Highest |
12.8Lowest |
| 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.