Compare towns
Webster vs Clinton vs Gardner vs Webster
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Webster has the most homeowners (59.8%).
Clinton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13.4%).
Gardner has the oldest population (median age 43.7).
Webster has the most renters (54.5% 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 | Clinton | Gardner | Webster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,748 |
15,563 |
21,148Highest |
12,228Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% MA: +7.4% |
+13.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+5.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.9% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.9±2.9 about the MA average |
38.6±2.7 4% below MA |
43.7±2.3Highest 9% above MA |
37.2±2.1Lowest 7% below MA |
| 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 MA: 19.4% |
17.8%±2.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
18.3%±2.3 MA: 19.4% |
21.8%±3.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Webster 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% |
14.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.6%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
15.7%±2.5 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 25.3% MA: 47.3% |
36.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
23.8% MA: 47.3% |
18.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±1.6 MA: 7.9% |
6.9%±2Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
| 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 30% below MA |
$89,781±$10kHighest 14% below MA |
$67,518±$8k 35% below MA |
$63,837±$8kLowest 39% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $361,500±$12k 36% below MA |
$387,300±$19kHighest 31% below MA |
$301,600±$20kLowest 46% below MA |
$333,100±$14k 41% below MA |
| Clinton and Webster 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 |
$1,402±$76Highest 20% below MA |
$1,109±$51Lowest 37% below MA |
$1,198±$85 32% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,999 33% below MA |
$4,654Highest 22% below MA |
$4,150 31% below MA |
$3,234Lowest 46% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.7%±6.7 MA: 51.8% |
40.3%±6.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
49.7%±8.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
46.1%±7.4 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% |
8.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
13.7% MA: 10% |
16%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
54.7% MA: 62.5% |
58.9% MA: 62.5% |
45.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962Highest 2 yrs older than MA |
1956 8 yrs older than MA |
1954Lowest 10 yrs older than MA |
1954Lowest 10 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 5% above MA |
30 min about the MA average |
31 minHighest 5% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
| Work from home | 8%±2.5 MA: 18.6% |
14.2%±4.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
13.3%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
7.1%±2.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Clinton 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 | #246 of 282 in MA | #273 of 282 in MA | #271 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Webster | Clinton | Gardner | — |
| High school in town | Bartlett High School | Clinton Senior High | Gardner High | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6Lowest |
12.8 |
13.5Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.