Compare towns
Webster vs Hanson vs Putnam 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 youngest population (median age 39.9).
Hanson has the highest household income ($132k).
Putnam has the shortest commute (25 min average).
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 | Hanson | Putnam | Gardner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,748 |
10,660 |
9,292Lowest |
21,148Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +5.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.9±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
42.8±3 10% above U.S. |
43.7±3Highest 12% above U.S. |
43.7±2.3Highest 12% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
21.6%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
18.3%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Hanson 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% |
19.7%±3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.6%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hanson 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% |
42.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
20%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
23.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Webster and Hanson 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. |
$132,200±$10kHighest 64% above U.S. |
$70,561±$7k 13% below U.S. |
$67,518±$8kLowest 16% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $361,500±$12k 9% above U.S. |
$533,900±$36kHighest 60% above U.S. |
$269,200±$11kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$301,600±$20k 9% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,228±$81 13% below U.S. |
$1,821±$860Highest 29% above U.S. |
$1,149±$44 19% below U.S. |
$1,109±$51Lowest 22% below U.S. |
| Hanson and Webster 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. |
$6,402Highest 105% above U.S. |
$3,860Lowest 24% above U.S. |
$4,150 33% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.7%±6.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
69%±33.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
49.7%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hanson 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% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
13.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
89%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
58.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1972Highest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1961 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1954Lowest 26 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 16% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
31 min 16% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 8%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Gardner and Putnam 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 | #149 of 282 in MA | #128 of 149 in CT | #273 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Webster | Whitman-Hanson | Putnam School District | Gardner |
| High school in town | Bartlett High School | Whitman Hanson Regional | Putnam High School | Gardner High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6 |
14.7Highest |
9.5Lowest |
13.5 |
| 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.