Compare towns
Webster vs Newfields vs Whitman 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%).
Newfields has the most people working from home (25.5%).
Whitman has the most kids (21.1% under 18).
Gardner has the most affordable homes ($302k median).
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 | Whitman | Gardner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,748 |
2,023Lowest |
15,295 |
21,148Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.9±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
44.1±1.8Highest 13% above U.S. |
40.4±1.8 4% above U.S. |
43.7±2.3 12% above U.S. |
| 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%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±1.6 U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.3%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Whitman and Webster 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% |
15.5%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.6%±2.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 25.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
68.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
31.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
23.8%Lowest 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% |
5.1%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Newfields and Webster 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. |
$108,933±$14k 35% above U.S. |
$67,518±$8kLowest 16% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $361,500±$12k 9% above U.S. |
$646,400±$34kHighest 94% above U.S. |
$472,700±$12k 42% above U.S. |
$301,600±$20kLowest 9% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,228±$81 13% below U.S. |
$1,875±$323Highest 33% above U.S. |
$1,771±$151 25% above U.S. |
$1,109±$51Lowest 22% below U.S. |
| Newfields and Whitman 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. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$5,824 87% above U.S. |
$4,150 33% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.7%±6.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
43.3%±40.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
61.9%±13.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
49.7%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Whitman 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% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
13.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
58.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1957 23 yrs older than U.S. |
1954Lowest 26 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 16% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
36 minHighest 37% above U.S. |
31 min 16% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 8%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.5%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±2.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #271 of 282 in MA | — | #191 of 282 in MA | #273 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Webster | Newfields School District | Whitman-Hanson | 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.