Compare towns
Webster vs Newfields vs Gardner vs Clinton
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 most kids (19.6% under 18).
Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).
Gardner has the most affordable homes ($302k median).
Clinton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13.4%).
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 | Newfields | Gardner | Clinton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,748 |
2,023Lowest |
21,148Highest |
15,563 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+13.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.9±2.9 about the U.S. average |
44.1±1.8Highest 13% above U.S. |
43.7±2.3 12% above U.S. |
38.6±2.7Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Newfields and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±2.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±1.6 U.S.: 22% |
18.3%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
17.8%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Webster and Newfields 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% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.6%±2.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.5%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 25.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
68.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
23.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±7.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Newfields and Clinton 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. |
$197,885±$15kHighest 145% above U.S. |
$67,518±$8kLowest 16% below U.S. |
$89,781±$10k 11% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $361,500±$12k 9% above U.S. |
$646,400±$34kHighest 94% above U.S. |
$301,600±$20kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$387,300±$19k 16% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,228±$81 13% below U.S. |
$1,875±$323Highest 33% above U.S. |
$1,109±$51Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,402±$76 about the U.S. average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,999Lowest 28% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,150 33% above U.S. |
$4,654 49% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.7%±6.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
43.3%±40.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
49.7%±8.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40.3%±6.4Lowest 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% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
13.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
58.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
54.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1954Lowest 26 yrs older than U.S. |
1956 24 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 16% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
31 minHighest 16% above U.S. |
30 min 13% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 8%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.5%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.2%±4.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #271 of 282 in MA | — | #273 of 282 in MA | #246 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Webster | Newfields School District | Gardner | Clinton |
| High school in town | Bartlett High School | None in town | Gardner High | Clinton Senior High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6Lowest |
— | 13.5Highest |
12.8 |
| 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.