Compare towns
Webster vs Mapleton vs Berwick 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Berwick has the most people working from home (13.7%).
Gardner has the oldest population (median age 43.7).
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 | Mapleton | Berwick | Gardner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,748 |
1,884Lowest |
1,998 |
21,148Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.9±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
41.8±6 7% above U.S. |
42.6±3.6 10% above U.S. |
43.7±2.3Highest 12% above U.S. |
| Gardner and Berwick 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% |
22.2%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
22.5%±12.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.3%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Berwick and Mapleton 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% |
18.3%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.9%±8.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.6%±2.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 25.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
35.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
23.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.1%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Webster and Mapleton 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. |
$91,731±$25kHighest 14% above U.S. |
$81,406±$39k about the U.S. average |
$67,518±$8kLowest 16% below U.S. |
| Mapleton and Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $361,500±$12kHighest 9% above U.S. |
$191,800±$23kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$323,300±$36k about the U.S. average |
$301,600±$20k 9% below U.S. |
| Webster and Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,228±$81Highest 13% below U.S. |
$610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$1,041±$901 26% below U.S. |
$1,109±$51 22% below U.S. |
| Webster and Gardner 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. |
$1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
$3,806 22% above U.S. |
$4,150Highest 33% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.7%±6.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
40.9%±45.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
49.7%±8.6Highest 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% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
13.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73% U.S.: 65.2% |
58.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1969 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1954Lowest 26 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 16% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 28% above U.S. |
31 min 16% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 8%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.7%±7.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Berwick 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 | — | #101 of 133 in ME | #273 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Webster | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | — | Gardner |
| High school in town | Bartlett High School | None in town | — | Gardner High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6Lowest |
— | — | 13.5Highest |
| 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.