Compare towns
Webster vs Bethlehem vs Clinton 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).
Bethlehem has the highest household income ($109k).
Clinton has the most renters (45.3% rent).
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 | Bethlehem | Clinton | Gardner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,748 |
3,423Lowest |
15,563 |
21,148Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +13.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.9±2.9 about the U.S. average |
51.5±8.5Highest 32% above U.S. |
38.6±2.7Lowest about the U.S. average |
43.7±2.3 12% above U.S. |
| Bethlehem and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±2.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.8%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
18.3%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Webster and Gardner 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% |
24.5%±5.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.6%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bethlehem 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
39.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
23.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Clinton 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 10% below U.S. |
$108,929±$16kHighest 35% above U.S. |
$89,781±$10k 11% above U.S. |
$67,518±$8kLowest 16% below U.S. |
| Bethlehem and Clinton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $361,500±$12k 9% above U.S. |
$410,900±$36kHighest 24% above U.S. |
$387,300±$19k 16% above U.S. |
$301,600±$20kLowest 9% below U.S. |
| Bethlehem and Clinton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,228±$81 13% below U.S. |
$1,127±$124 20% below U.S. |
$1,402±$76Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,109±$51Lowest 22% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,999Lowest 28% above U.S. |
$5,932Highest 90% above U.S. |
$4,654 49% above U.S. |
$4,150 33% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.7%±6.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
69.7%±38.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40.3%±6.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
49.7%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Bethlehem 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% |
10.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
13.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
70.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
54.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
58.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1956 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1954Lowest 26 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 16% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 10% above U.S. |
30 min 13% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 16% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 8%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.9%±5 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.2%±4.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Clinton and Bethlehem 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 | #82 of 149 in CT | #246 of 282 in MA | #273 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Webster | Regional School District 14 | Clinton | Gardner |
| High school in town | Bartlett High School | None in town | Clinton Senior High | Gardner High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6Lowest |
— | 12.8 |
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.