Compare towns
Webster vs Central Falls 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 highest household income ($73k).
Central Falls has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.6%).
Gardner has the most people working from home (13.3%).
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 | Central Falls | Gardner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 17,748Lowest |
22,701Highest |
21,148 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.9±2.9 about the U.S. average |
32.5±2.3Lowest 16% below U.S. |
43.7±2.3Highest 12% above U.S. |
| Gardner and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
26.1%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.3%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Central Falls and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.6%±2.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
10.7%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.6%±2.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 25.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
10.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
23.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Webster and Central Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $72,895±$6kHighest 10% below U.S. |
$49,285±$8kLowest 39% below U.S. |
$67,518±$8k 16% below U.S. |
| Webster and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $361,500±$12kHighest 9% above U.S. |
$352,100±$30k 6% above U.S. |
$301,600±$20kLowest 9% below U.S. |
| Webster and Central Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,228±$81Highest 13% below U.S. |
$1,200±$75 15% below U.S. |
$1,109±$51Lowest 22% below U.S. |
| Webster and Central Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,999 28% above U.S. |
$3,744Lowest 20% above U.S. |
$4,150Highest 33% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.7%±6.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.7%±8.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
49.7%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Central Falls and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 12.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
24.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
13.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
25.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
58.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962Highest 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1944Lowest 36 yrs older than U.S. |
1954 26 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 16% above U.S. |
27 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 16% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 8%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
5.2%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Gardner and Webster 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 | #38 of 38 in RI | #273 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Webster | Learning Community · Segue Institute for Learning | Gardner |
| High school in town | Bartlett High School | Central Falls Sr High | Gardner High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6Lowest |
14.6Highest |
13.5 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.