Compare towns
Webster vs Morris vs Hampton 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 the youngest population (median age 39.9).
Morris has the most expensive homes ($396k median).
Hampton has the most affordable homes ($296k median).
Gardner has the most renters (41.1% rent).
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 | Morris | Hampton | Gardner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,748 |
2,164 |
1,647Lowest |
21,148Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — | +5.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.9±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
52.8±6.5Highest 36% above U.S. |
51.5±5.3 32% above U.S. |
43.7±2.3 12% above U.S. |
| Morris and Hampton 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% |
17.9%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.7%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.3%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Hampton and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.6%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
29.3%±6.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.1%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.6%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Morris and Hampton 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% |
41.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
29.9% 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%±3 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Webster and Morris 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. |
$109,191±$25kHighest 35% above U.S. |
$109,167±$19k 35% above U.S. |
$67,518±$8kLowest 16% below U.S. |
| Morris and Hampton 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. |
$396,000±$60kHighest 19% above U.S. |
$295,800±$27kLowest 11% below U.S. |
$301,600±$20k 9% below U.S. |
| Morris and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,228±$81 13% below U.S. |
$1,204±$134 15% below U.S. |
$1,285±$288Highest 9% below U.S. |
$1,109±$51Lowest 22% below U.S. |
| Hampton and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,999Lowest 28% above U.S. |
$5,273Highest 69% above U.S. |
$4,364 40% above U.S. |
$4,150 33% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.7%±6.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±31.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.5%±51.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
49.7%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Morris and Hampton 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% |
6.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
13.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
90%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
58.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1954Lowest 26 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 16% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 10% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 16% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 8%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.4%±5.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±5.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Morris and Hampton 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 | — | — | #273 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Webster | Regional School District 20 | Hampton School District | Gardner |
| High school in town | Bartlett High School | None in town | 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.