Compare towns
Webster vs Gardner vs Brooklyn vs Clinton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Gardner has the most affordable homes ($302k median).
Brooklyn has the most homeowners (81.7%).
Clinton has the most expensive homes ($387k 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 | Gardner | Brooklyn | Clinton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,748 |
21,148Highest |
8,517Lowest |
15,563 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +13.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.9±2.9 about the U.S. average |
43.7±2.3 12% above U.S. |
45.6±2.5Highest 17% above U.S. |
38.6±2.7Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Brooklyn and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
18.3%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
20.6%±4.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.8%±2.5Lowest 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%±2.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.6%±2.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±2.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 25.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
23.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
23.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
36.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±2Highest 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. |
$67,518±$8kLowest 16% below U.S. |
$96,207±$15kHighest 19% above U.S. |
$89,781±$10k 11% above U.S. |
| Brooklyn 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. |
$301,600±$20kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$315,200±$28k 5% below U.S. |
$387,300±$19kHighest 16% above U.S. |
| 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 13% below U.S. |
$1,109±$51Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,125±$98 20% below U.S. |
$1,402±$76Highest about the U.S. average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,999Lowest 28% above U.S. |
$4,150 33% above U.S. |
$4,538 45% above U.S. |
$4,654Highest 49% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.7%±6.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
49.7%±8.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.5%±19.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
40.3%±6.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
13.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
58.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
81.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
54.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1954Lowest 26 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1956 24 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 16% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 16% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
30 min 13% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 8%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.7%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.2%±4.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #273 of 282 in MA | #113 of 149 in CT | #246 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Webster | Gardner | Brooklyn School District | Clinton |
| High school in town | Bartlett High School | Gardner High | None in town | Clinton Senior High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6Lowest |
13.5Highest |
— | 12.8 |
| 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.