Compare towns
Webster vs Derby vs Brooklyn 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 expensive homes ($362k median).
Derby has the most affordable homes ($257k median).
Brooklyn has the most homeowners (81.7%).
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 | Derby | Brooklyn | Gardner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,748 |
12,487 |
8,517Lowest |
21,148Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +5.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.9±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
46.4±3.1Highest 19% above U.S. |
45.6±2.5 17% above U.S. |
43.7±2.3 12% above U.S. |
| Derby and Brooklyn 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% |
14.6%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.6%±4.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.3%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Brooklyn and Webster 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% |
21.1%±3.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.6%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Derby 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% |
35.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
23.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
23.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Derby 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. |
$79,500±$11k about the U.S. average |
$96,207±$15kHighest 19% above U.S. |
$67,518±$8kLowest 16% below U.S. |
| Brooklyn and Derby 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. |
$256,700±$21kLowest 23% below U.S. |
$315,200±$28k 5% below U.S. |
$301,600±$20k 9% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,228±$81 13% below U.S. |
$1,452±$95Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,125±$98 20% below U.S. |
$1,109±$51Lowest 22% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,999Lowest 28% above U.S. |
$5,510Highest 77% above U.S. |
$4,538 45% above U.S. |
$4,150 33% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.7%±6.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
53.9%±12.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.5%±19.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
49.7%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Derby 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% |
10.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
13.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
61.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
81.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
58.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1954Lowest 26 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 16% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
31 minHighest 16% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 8%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.1%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.7%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Derby 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 | #138 of 149 in CT | #113 of 149 in CT | #273 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Webster | Derby School District | Brooklyn School District | Gardner |
| High school in town | Bartlett High School | Derby High School | None in town | Gardner High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6 |
9.7Lowest |
— | 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.