Compare towns
Webster vs Needham vs Gardner vs Douglas
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Webster has the youngest population (median age 39.9).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
Gardner has the most affordable homes ($302k median).
Douglas has the most homeowners (83.8%).
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 | Needham | Gardner | Douglas |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,748 |
32,459Highest |
21,148 |
9,207Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+5.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.9±2.9Lowest about the MA average |
43.1±1.6 8% above MA |
43.7±2.3 9% above MA |
44±2.6Highest 10% above MA |
| Douglas 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 MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.3%±2.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.2%±3.8 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 19.6%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
19.6%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
15.4%±3.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 25.3% MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
23.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
41.7% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±2.3 MA: 7.9% |
| Webster and Needham 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 |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$67,518±$8kLowest 35% below MA |
$152,267±$10k 46% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $361,500±$12k 36% below MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$301,600±$20kLowest 46% below MA |
$470,600±$29k 16% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,228±$81 30% below MA |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$1,109±$51Lowest 37% below MA |
$1,503±$697 15% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,999Lowest 33% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$4,150 31% below MA |
$6,338 6% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.7%±6.7 MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
49.7%±8.6 MA: 51.8% |
33.9%±17.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Needham 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% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
13.7%Highest MA: 10% |
4.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.8% MA: 62.5% |
83.1% MA: 62.5% |
58.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962 2 yrs older than MA |
1965 1 yr newer than MA |
1954Lowest 10 yrs older than MA |
1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 5% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
31 min 5% above MA |
34 minHighest 16% above MA |
| Work from home | 8%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
13.3%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
20.9%±4.9 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #271 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | #273 of 282 in MA | #177 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Webster | Needham | Gardner | Douglas |
| High school in town | Bartlett High School | Needham High | Gardner High | Douglas High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6 |
11.9 |
13.5Highest |
7.2Lowest |
| 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.