Compare towns
Webster vs Acton vs Gardner vs Whitman
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Webster has the youngest population (median age 39.9).
Acton has the most people working from home (35.9%).
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 | Acton | Gardner | Whitman |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,748 |
24,155Highest |
21,148 |
15,295Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% MA: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+5.2% MA: +7.4% |
+4.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.9±2.9Lowest about the MA average |
44.5±0.8Highest 11% above MA |
43.7±2.3 9% above MA |
40.4±1.8 about the MA average |
| Acton and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±2.9 MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.3%±2.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.1%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
| Acton and Whitman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.6%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.6%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
19.6%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
15.5%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 25.3% MA: 47.3% |
79.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
23.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
31.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
| Webster and Whitman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $72,895±$6k 30% below MA |
$158,230±$14kHighest 52% above MA |
$67,518±$8kLowest 35% below MA |
$108,933±$14k 5% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $361,500±$12k 36% below MA |
$807,300±$20kHighest 44% above MA |
$301,600±$20kLowest 46% below MA |
$472,700±$12k 16% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,228±$81 30% below MA |
$1,986±$155Highest 13% above MA |
$1,109±$51Lowest 37% below MA |
$1,771±$151 about the MA average |
| Acton and Whitman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,999Lowest 33% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$4,150 31% below MA |
$5,824 about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.7%±6.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
47.7%±11.3 MA: 51.8% |
49.7%±8.6 MA: 51.8% |
61.9%±13.4Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Whitman and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 12.7% MA: 10% |
3.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
13.7%Highest MA: 10% |
7.9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.8% MA: 62.5% |
74.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
58.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
71.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962 2 yrs older than MA |
1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA |
1954Lowest 10 yrs older than MA |
1957 7 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minLowest 5% above MA |
35 min 19% above MA |
31 minLowest 5% above MA |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
| Work from home | 8%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
35.9%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
13.3%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
10.8%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #271 of 282 in MA | #13 of 282 in MA | #273 of 282 in MA | #191 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Webster | Acton-Boxborough | Gardner | Whitman-Hanson |
| High school in town | Bartlett High School | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | Gardner High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6Lowest |
13.5Highest |
13.5Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.