Compare towns
Webster vs Hampton vs Gardner vs Warren
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.9%).
Hampton has the most expensive homes ($545k median).
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 | Webster | Hampton | Gardner | Warren |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 12,228 |
10,101 |
21,148Highest |
5,009Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.2±2.1Lowest 4% below U.S. |
51.2±1.7Highest 32% above U.S. |
43.7±2.3 12% above U.S. |
38.7±7.3 about the U.S. average |
| Kids under 18 | 21.8%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.3%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
20.8%±8 U.S.: 22% |
| Webster and Warren 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% |
26.9%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.6%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.6%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 18.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
23.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
23.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 21% below U.S. |
$97,163±$4kHighest 20% above U.S. |
$67,518±$8k 16% below U.S. |
$66,082±$6k 18% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $333,100±$14k about the U.S. average |
$545,300±$63kHighest 64% above U.S. |
$301,600±$20kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$333,700±$35k about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,198±$85 15% below U.S. |
$1,654±$93Highest 17% above U.S. |
$1,109±$51 22% below U.S. |
$890±$174Lowest 37% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,234Lowest 4% above U.S. |
$6,872Highest 120% above U.S. |
$4,150 33% above U.S. |
$4,530 45% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.1%±7.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
48.9%±13.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
49.7%±8.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
29.7%±18.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Gardner and Hampton 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% |
4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
13.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 45.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
74.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
58.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
64.5% 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. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 4% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
31 min 16% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 7.1%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.5%±3.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.5%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hampton 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 | #31 of 120 in NH | #273 of 282 in MA | #165 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | — | Gardner | Quaboag Regional |
| High school in town | — | — | Gardner High | Quaboag Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 13.5Highest |
10.0Lowest |
| 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.