Compare towns
Webster vs Reading 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%).
Reading has the highest household income ($166k).
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 | Reading | Gardner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 12,228Lowest |
25,612Highest |
21,148 |
| 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 |
43.7±2.3Highest 9% above MA |
43.7±2.3Highest 9% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 21.8%±3.6 MA: 19.4% |
22.8%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.3%±2.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Reading and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15.7%±2.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±2.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.6%±2.2 MA: 17.9% |
| Reading 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 MA: 47.3% |
66.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
23.8% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6%±1.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.7Lowest 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 |
$165,912±$13kHighest 60% above MA |
$67,518±$8k 35% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $333,100±$14k 41% below MA |
$809,000±$22kHighest 44% above MA |
$301,600±$20kLowest 46% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,198±$85 32% below MA |
$1,991±$273Highest 13% above MA |
$1,109±$51Lowest 37% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,234Lowest 46% below MA |
$9,320Highest 56% above MA |
$4,150 31% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.1%±7.4 MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
49.7%±8.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
| 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 MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
13.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 45.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
82.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
58.9% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1954Lowest 10 yrs older than MA |
1960Highest 4 yrs older than MA |
1954Lowest 10 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 5% below MA |
31 minHighest 6% above MA |
31 min 5% above MA |
| Work from home | 7.1%±2.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
30.2%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
13.3%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #271 of 282 in MA | #50 of 282 in MA | #273 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Reading | Gardner |
| High school in town | — | Reading Memorial High | Gardner High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1Lowest |
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.