Compare towns
Webster vs Ayer 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
Ayer has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).
Gardner has the most affordable homes ($302k median).
Whitman has the highest household income ($109k).
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 | Ayer | Gardner | Whitman |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,748 |
8,645Lowest |
21,148Highest |
15,295 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% MA: +7.4% |
+14.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+5.2% MA: +7.4% |
+4.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.9±2.9 about the MA average |
39.2±2.8Lowest about the MA average |
43.7±2.3Highest 9% above MA |
40.4±1.8 about the MA average |
| Gardner and Whitman 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% |
18.3%±2.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.1%±3.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Whitman and Ayer 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% |
14.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.6%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
15.5%±2.1 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 25.3% MA: 47.3% |
42.3%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% |
4.5%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.3 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 |
$101,875±$15k about the MA average |
$67,518±$8kLowest 35% below MA |
$108,933±$14kHighest 5% above MA |
| Whitman and Ayer 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 |
$463,800±$29k 17% below MA |
$301,600±$20kLowest 46% below MA |
$472,700±$12kHighest 16% below MA |
| Whitman and Ayer 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 |
$1,415±$180 20% below MA |
$1,109±$51Lowest 37% below MA |
$1,771±$151Highest about the MA average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,999Lowest 33% below MA |
$5,057 16% below MA |
$4,150 31% below MA |
$5,824Highest about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.7%±6.7 MA: 51.8% |
45.1%±14.2Lowest 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% |
10.7% MA: 10% |
13.7%Highest MA: 10% |
7.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.8% MA: 62.5% |
69.2% MA: 62.5% |
58.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
71.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962 2 yrs older than MA |
1977Highest 13 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 |
33 min 13% above MA |
31 minLowest 5% above MA |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
| Work from home | 8%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±5.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
13.3%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
10.8%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
| Ayer 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 | #113 of 282 in MA | #273 of 282 in MA | #191 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Webster | Ayer Shirley School District | Gardner | Whitman-Hanson |
| High school in town | Bartlett High School | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | Gardner High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6 |
11.5Lowest |
13.5Highest |
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| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 12 photos → | 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.