Compare towns
Webster vs Lee vs Gardner
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Webster has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
Lee has the shortest commute (18 min average).
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 | Lee | Gardner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 17,748 |
5,719Lowest |
21,148Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+5.2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.9±2.9Lowest about the MA average |
55.2±5.8Highest 38% above MA |
43.7±2.3 9% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±2.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
12.6%±5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
18.3%±2.3 MA: 19.4% |
| Webster and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.6%±2.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
33.4%±6.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.6%±2.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 25.3% MA: 47.3% |
44.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
23.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
5%±2.1 MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Webster and Lee 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 |
$83,750±$13kHighest 19% below MA |
$67,518±$8kLowest 35% below MA |
| Lee and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $361,500±$12kHighest 36% below MA |
$352,700±$19k 37% below MA |
$301,600±$20kLowest 46% below MA |
| Webster and Lee 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 |
$1,375±$212Highest 22% below MA |
$1,109±$51Lowest 37% below MA |
| Lee and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,999 33% below MA |
$3,980Lowest 34% below MA |
$4,150Highest 31% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.7%±6.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
57.3%±21.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
49.7%±8.6 MA: 51.8% |
| Lee and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 12.7% MA: 10% |
7.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
13.7%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.8% MA: 62.5% |
71.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
58.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962Highest 2 yrs older than MA |
1959 5 yrs older than MA |
1954Lowest 10 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 5% above MA |
18 minLowest 38% below MA |
31 minHighest 5% above MA |
| Work from home | 8%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
16.4%±7.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
13.3%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
| Lee 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 | #209 of 282 in MA | #273 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Webster | Lee | Gardner |
| High school in town | Bartlett High School | Lee Middle/High School | Gardner High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6 |
9.2Lowest |
13.5Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.