Compare towns
Webster vs Acushnet vs Whitman 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%).
Acushnet has the most homeowners (85.3%).
Whitman has the highest household income ($109k).
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 | Acushnet | Whitman | Gardner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,748 |
10,624Lowest |
15,295 |
21,148Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4% MA: +7.4% |
+5.2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.9±2.9Lowest about the MA average |
46±2.8Highest 15% above MA |
40.4±1.8 about the MA average |
43.7±2.3 9% above MA |
| Acushnet 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% |
20.3%±3.9 MA: 19.4% |
21.1%±3.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.3%±2.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Whitman and Acushnet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.6%±2.5 MA: 17.9% |
23.9%±3.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
15.5%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.6%±2.2 MA: 17.9% |
| Acushnet and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 25.3% MA: 47.3% |
26.4% MA: 47.3% |
31.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
23.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.3 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 |
$89,503±$9k 14% below MA |
$108,933±$14kHighest 5% above MA |
$67,518±$8kLowest 35% below MA |
| Whitman and Acushnet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $361,500±$12k 36% below MA |
$436,400±$34k 22% below MA |
$472,700±$12kHighest 16% below MA |
$301,600±$20kLowest 46% below MA |
| Whitman and Acushnet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,228±$81 30% below MA |
$1,170±$354 34% below MA |
$1,771±$151Highest about the MA average |
$1,109±$51Lowest 37% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,999Lowest 33% below MA |
$4,647 22% below MA |
$5,824Highest about the MA average |
$4,150 31% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.7%±6.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
65.4%±15.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
61.9%±13.4 MA: 51.8% |
49.7%±8.6 MA: 51.8% |
| Acushnet and Whitman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 12.7% MA: 10% |
6%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.9% MA: 10% |
13.7%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.8% MA: 62.5% |
85.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
71.4% MA: 62.5% |
58.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962 2 yrs older than MA |
1968Highest 4 yrs newer than MA |
1957 7 yrs older than MA |
1954Lowest 10 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 5% above MA |
28 minLowest 4% below MA |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
31 min 5% above MA |
| Work from home | 8%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
10.3%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
10.8%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
13.3%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Gardner and Whitman 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 | #118 of 282 in MA | #191 of 282 in MA | #273 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Webster | Acushnet | Whitman-Hanson | Gardner |
| High school in town | Bartlett High School | None in town | None in town | Gardner High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6Lowest |
— | — | 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.