Compare towns
Webster vs Lawrence vs Upton vs Gardner
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lawrence has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.7%).
Upton has the highest household income ($156k).
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 | Lawrence | Upton | Gardner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,748 |
88,736Highest |
8,189Lowest |
21,148 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% MA: +7.4% |
+16.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6.1% MA: +7.4% |
+5.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.9±2.9 about the MA average |
32.6±0.9Lowest 19% below MA |
46.4±4.8Highest 16% above MA |
43.7±2.3 9% above MA |
| Upton 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 MA: 19.4% |
26.3%±1.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5 MA: 19.4% |
18.3%±2.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Lawrence and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.6%±2.5 MA: 17.9% |
10.5%±0.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.6%±2.2 MA: 17.9% |
| Upton 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% MA: 47.3% |
16.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
53.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
23.8% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±0.8 MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
| Webster and Lawrence 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 |
$60,433±$3kLowest 42% below MA |
$155,508±$33kHighest 50% above MA |
$67,518±$8k 35% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $361,500±$12k 36% below MA |
$415,200±$23k 26% below MA |
$576,700±$41kHighest about the MA average |
$301,600±$20kLowest 46% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,228±$81 30% below MA |
$1,662±$50Highest 6% below MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$1,109±$51 37% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,999 33% below MA |
$3,422Lowest 43% below MA |
$8,376Highest 40% above MA |
$4,150 31% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.7%±6.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
60.6%±3.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31 MA: 51.8% |
49.7%±8.6 MA: 51.8% |
| Lawrence and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 12.7% MA: 10% |
17.6%Highest MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
13.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.8% MA: 62.5% |
28.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
58.9% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962 2 yrs older than MA |
1950Lowest 14 yrs older than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1954 10 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 5% above MA |
23 minLowest 21% below MA |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
31 min 5% above MA |
| Work from home | 8%±2.5 MA: 18.6% |
6.8%±1.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
13.3%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #271 of 282 in MA | #278 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA | #273 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Webster | Lawrence | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Gardner |
| High school in town | Bartlett High School | Lawrence High School | Blackstone Valley | Gardner High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6 |
13.6Highest |
11.2Lowest |
13.5 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 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.