Compare towns
Webster vs Lowell vs Gardner vs Whitman
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lowell has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).
Gardner has the most people working from home (13.3%).
Whitman has the highest household income ($109k).
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 | Lowell | Gardner | Whitman |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,748 |
118,368Highest |
21,148 |
15,295Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% MA: +7.4% |
+8.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+5.2% MA: +7.4% |
+4.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.9±2.9 about the MA average |
35.6±0.8Lowest 11% below MA |
43.7±2.3Highest 9% above MA |
40.4±1.8 about the MA average |
| Gardner and Whitman 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% |
21.7%±1.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.3%±2.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.1%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
| Lowell and Whitman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.6%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
12.6%±0.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.6%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
15.5%±2.1 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 25.3% MA: 47.3% |
30% MA: 47.3% |
23.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
31.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±1.6 MA: 7.9% |
9.7%±0.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $72,895±$6k 30% below MA |
$78,658±$4k 24% below MA |
$67,518±$8kLowest 35% below MA |
$108,933±$14kHighest 5% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $361,500±$12k 36% below MA |
$429,200±$11k 24% below MA |
$301,600±$20kLowest 46% below MA |
$472,700±$12kHighest 16% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,228±$81 30% below MA |
$1,625±$40 8% below MA |
$1,109±$51Lowest 37% below MA |
$1,771±$151Highest about the MA average |
| Whitman and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,999Lowest 33% below MA |
$4,499 25% below MA |
$4,150 31% below MA |
$5,824Highest about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.7%±6.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52.4%±3.8 MA: 51.8% |
49.7%±8.6 MA: 51.8% |
61.9%±13.4Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Whitman and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 12.7% MA: 10% |
16.9%Highest MA: 10% |
13.7% MA: 10% |
7.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.8% MA: 62.5% |
43.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
58.9% MA: 62.5% |
71.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962Highest 2 yrs older than MA |
1953Lowest 11 yrs older than MA |
1954 10 yrs older than MA |
1957 7 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 5% above MA |
28 minLowest 4% below MA |
31 min 5% above MA |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
| Work from home | 8%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
10.6%±1.3 MA: 18.6% |
13.3%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.8%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
| Gardner and Whitman 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 | #255 of 282 in MA | #273 of 282 in MA | #191 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Webster | Lowell | Gardner | Whitman-Hanson |
| High school in town | Bartlett High School | Lowell High | Gardner High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6Lowest |
14.8Highest |
13.5 |
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| 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.