Compare towns
Webster vs Ashburnham vs Douglas 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 the youngest population (median age 39.9).
Ashburnham has the most homeowners (96%).
Douglas has the most people working from home (20.9%).
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 | Ashburnham | Douglas | Gardner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,748 |
6,415Lowest |
9,207 |
21,148Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+5.2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.9±2.9Lowest about the MA average |
40.7±6.3 about the MA average |
44±2.6Highest 10% above MA |
43.7±2.3 9% above MA |
| Douglas 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% |
22.6%±6Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.2%±3.8 MA: 19.4% |
18.3%±2.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Ashburnham and Douglas 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% |
18.1%±4.5 MA: 17.9% |
15.4%±3.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.6%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 25.3% MA: 47.3% |
44%Highest MA: 47.3% |
41.7% MA: 47.3% |
23.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±2.3 MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Webster and Ashburnham 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 |
$118,809±$11k 14% above MA |
$152,267±$10kHighest 46% above MA |
$67,518±$8kLowest 35% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $361,500±$12k 36% below MA |
$390,700±$34k 30% below MA |
$470,600±$29kHighest 16% below MA |
$301,600±$20kLowest 46% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,228±$81 30% below MA |
$1,807±$1kHighest about the MA average |
$1,503±$697 15% below MA |
$1,109±$51Lowest 37% below MA |
| Ashburnham and Douglas 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 |
$6,046 about the MA average |
$6,338Highest 6% above MA |
$4,150 31% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.7%±6.7 MA: 51.8% |
100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
33.9%±17.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
49.7%±8.6 MA: 51.8% |
| Ashburnham 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% |
6.8% MA: 10% |
4.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
13.7%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.8% MA: 62.5% |
96%Highest MA: 62.5% |
83.8% MA: 62.5% |
58.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962 2 yrs older than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
1954Lowest 10 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minLowest 5% above MA |
32 min 10% above MA |
34 minHighest 16% above MA |
31 minLowest 5% above MA |
| Work from home | 8%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
16%±7.7 MA: 18.6% |
20.9%±4.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
13.3%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
| Douglas and Ashburnham 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 | #178 of 282 in MA | #177 of 282 in MA | #273 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Webster | Ashburnham-Westminster | Douglas | Gardner |
| High school in town | Bartlett High School | None in town | Douglas High School | Gardner High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6 |
— | 7.2Lowest |
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.