Compare towns
Webster vs Berlin vs Plainfield vs Gardner
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Webster has the most kids (19.6% under 18).
Berlin has the most people working from home (29.1%).
Plainfield has the shortest commute (27 min average).
Gardner has the most renters (41.1% 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 | Berlin | Plainfield | Gardner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,748 |
3,378Lowest |
15,141 |
21,148Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +5.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.9±2.9 about the U.S. average |
49.7±2.8Highest 28% above U.S. |
37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
43.7±2.3 12% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±2.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.4%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
18.3%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Webster and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.6%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.1%±5.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.6%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 25.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
48.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
15%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
23.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Webster and Plainfield 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 10% below U.S. |
$121,336±$12kHighest 50% above U.S. |
$76,993±$8k 5% below U.S. |
$67,518±$8kLowest 16% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $361,500±$12k 9% above U.S. |
$616,600±$55kHighest 85% above U.S. |
$272,100±$16kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$301,600±$20k 9% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,228±$81 13% below U.S. |
$2,420±$933Highest 71% above U.S. |
$1,204±$70 15% below U.S. |
$1,109±$51Lowest 22% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,999Lowest 28% above U.S. |
$7,116Highest 128% above U.S. |
$4,209 35% above U.S. |
$4,150 33% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.7%±6.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.6%±19.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.8%±9.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
49.7%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Berlin and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 12.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
13.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
77.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
58.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1992Highest 12 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1954Lowest 26 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 16% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 29% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
31 min 16% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 8%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
29.1%±6.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #271 of 282 in MA | #61 of 282 in MA | #131 of 149 in CT | #273 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Webster | Berlin-Boylston | Plainfield School District | Gardner |
| High school in town | Bartlett High School | None in town | Plainfield High School | Gardner High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6 |
— | 10.3Lowest |
13.5Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.