Compare towns
Webster vs Ashby vs Gardner vs Webster
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ashby has the most homeowners (95.5%).
Gardner has the most affordable homes ($302k median).
Webster has the most renters (54.5% rent).
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 | Ashby | Gardner | Webster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,748 |
3,211Lowest |
21,148Highest |
12,228 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% MA: +7.4% |
+3.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+5.2% MA: +7.4% |
+6.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.9±2.9 about the MA average |
50.5±3Highest 26% above MA |
43.7±2.3 9% above MA |
37.2±2.1Lowest 7% below MA |
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±2.9 MA: 19.4% |
17%±3.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
18.3%±2.3 MA: 19.4% |
21.8%±3.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Webster and Webster 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% |
21.5%±4.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.6%±2.2 MA: 17.9% |
15.7%±2.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Ashby 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% |
43.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
23.8% MA: 47.3% |
18.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±1.6 MA: 7.9% |
3%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
6%±1.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Webster and Webster 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 |
$115,598±$9kHighest 11% above MA |
$67,518±$8k 35% below MA |
$63,837±$8kLowest 39% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $361,500±$12k 36% below MA |
$390,500±$30kHighest 31% below MA |
$301,600±$20kLowest 46% below MA |
$333,100±$14k 41% below MA |
| Ashby and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,228±$81Highest 30% below MA |
$1,200±$484 32% below MA |
$1,109±$51Lowest 37% below MA |
$1,198±$85 32% below MA |
| Webster and Ashby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,999 33% below MA |
$6,034Highest about the MA average |
$4,150 31% below MA |
$3,234Lowest 46% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.7%±6.7 MA: 51.8% |
36.4%±53.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
49.7%±8.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
46.1%±7.4 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 | 12.7% MA: 10% |
2.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
13.7% MA: 10% |
16%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.8% MA: 62.5% |
95.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
58.9% MA: 62.5% |
45.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962 2 yrs older than MA |
1970Highest 6 yrs newer than MA |
1954Lowest 10 yrs older than MA |
1954Lowest 10 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 5% above MA |
33 minHighest 13% above MA |
31 min 5% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
| Work from home | 8%±2.5 MA: 18.6% |
17.8%±5.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
13.3%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
7.1%±2.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Ashby and Gardner 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 | #200 of 282 in MA | #273 of 282 in MA | #271 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Webster | North Middlesex | Gardner | — |
| High school in town | Bartlett High School | 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.