Compare towns
Webster vs Lancaster vs Gardner
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%).
Lancaster has the most affordable homes ($216k median).
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 | Lancaster | Gardner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 12,228 |
3,216Lowest |
21,148Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-8.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.2±2.1Lowest 4% below U.S. |
45.5±6.9Highest 17% above U.S. |
43.7±2.3 12% above U.S. |
| Lancaster and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.8%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±6.1 U.S.: 22% |
18.3%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Webster and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15.7%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
28.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.6%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 18.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
23.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.3 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. |
$68,911±$23kHighest 15% below U.S. |
$67,518±$8k 16% below U.S. |
| Lancaster 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 about the U.S. average |
$215,700±$24kLowest 35% below U.S. |
$301,600±$20k 9% below U.S. |
| 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 15% below U.S. |
$1,019±$263Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,109±$51 22% below U.S. |
| Webster and Gardner 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. |
$4,226Highest 35% above U.S. |
$4,150 33% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.1%±7.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
36.1%±17Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
49.7%±8.6Highest 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
16.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
13.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 45.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
58.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1954Highest 26 yrs older than U.S. |
1942Lowest 38 yrs older than U.S. |
1954Highest 26 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 4% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 16% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 7.1%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.5%±6.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Gardner and Lancaster 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 | #107 of 120 in NH | #273 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | White Mountains Regional School District | Gardner |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Gardner High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 13.5 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.