Compare towns
Webster vs Middlesex vs Gardner vs Milford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
Gardner has the most affordable homes ($302k median).
Milford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).
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 | Middlesex | Gardner | Milford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,748 |
1,943Lowest |
21,148 |
30,431Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.9±2.9 about the U.S. average |
44.4±3.9Highest 14% above U.S. |
43.7±2.3 12% above U.S. |
38.9±1.8Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Middlesex 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 U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.3%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.7%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Middlesex and Milford 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% |
20.6%±3.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.6%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Middlesex 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% |
54.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
23.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Webster and Middlesex 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. |
$109,632±$13kHighest 36% above U.S. |
$67,518±$8kLowest 16% below U.S. |
$96,365±$4k 19% above U.S. |
| Middlesex and Milford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $361,500±$12k 9% above U.S. |
$376,300±$40k 13% above U.S. |
$301,600±$20kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$476,700±$12kHighest 43% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,228±$81 13% below U.S. |
$1,333±$359 6% below U.S. |
$1,109±$51Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,909±$137Highest 35% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,999Lowest 28% above U.S. |
$6,483Highest 108% above U.S. |
$4,150 33% above U.S. |
$5,869 88% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.7%±6.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
49.7%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
56.8%±8.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Milford 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% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
13.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
58.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
65.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1954Lowest 26 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 16% above U.S. |
27 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
31 min 16% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 40% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 8%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.5%±2.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #271 of 282 in MA | — | #273 of 282 in MA | #213 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Webster | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Gardner | Milford |
| High school in town | Bartlett High School | None in town | Gardner High | Milford High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6Lowest |
— | 13.5Highest |
11.9 |
| 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.