Compare towns
Webster vs Charlton vs Gardner
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Webster has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
Charlton has the highest household income ($118k).
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 | Charlton | Gardner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 17,748 |
13,435Lowest |
21,148Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+5.2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.9±2.9Lowest about the MA average |
43±4 8% above MA |
43.7±2.3Highest 9% above MA |
| Gardner and Charlton 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% |
24.7%±3.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.3%±2.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Charlton 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 MA: 17.9% |
18%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.6%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 25.3% MA: 47.3% |
37.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
23.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±1.6 MA: 7.9% |
6.8%±2.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Charlton 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 |
$117,587±$8kHighest 13% above MA |
$67,518±$8kLowest 35% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $361,500±$12k 36% below MA |
$427,500±$19kHighest 24% below MA |
$301,600±$20kLowest 46% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,228±$81 30% below MA |
$1,381±$415Highest 22% below MA |
$1,109±$51Lowest 37% below MA |
| Charlton and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,999Lowest 33% below MA |
$4,617Highest 23% below MA |
$4,150 31% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.7%±6.7 MA: 51.8% |
41.3%±9.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
49.7%±8.6Highest 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% |
2.5%Lowest MA: 10% |
13.7%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.8% MA: 62.5% |
84.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
58.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962 2 yrs older than MA |
1985Highest 21 yrs newer than MA |
1954Lowest 10 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minLowest 5% above MA |
33 minHighest 13% above MA |
31 minLowest 5% above MA |
| Work from home | 8%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
13%±4.2 MA: 18.6% |
13.3%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Gardner and Charlton 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 | #133 of 282 in MA | #273 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Webster | Dudley-Charlton Reg · Southern Worcester County Regional Vocational School Distric | Gardner |
| High school in town | Bartlett High School | Bay Path Regional Vocational Technical High School | Gardner High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6 |
9.7Lowest |
13.5Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.