Compare towns
Webster vs Putnam vs Douglas 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).
Putnam has the most affordable homes ($245k median).
Douglas has the highest household income ($152k).
Gardner has the oldest housing (typical home built 1954).
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 | Putnam | Douglas | Gardner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,748 |
7,120Lowest |
9,207 |
21,148Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.9±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
41.2±5.1 6% above U.S. |
44±2.6Highest 13% above U.S. |
43.7±2.3 12% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
21.2%±3.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.3%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Douglas 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% |
17%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.6%±2.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 25.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
18.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
23.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Webster and Douglas 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. |
$65,511±$7kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$152,267±$10kHighest 89% above U.S. |
$67,518±$8k 16% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $361,500±$12k 9% above U.S. |
$245,100±$13kLowest 26% below U.S. |
$470,600±$29kHighest 41% above U.S. |
$301,600±$20k 9% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,228±$81 13% below U.S. |
$1,147±$43 19% below U.S. |
$1,503±$697Highest 6% above U.S. |
$1,109±$51Lowest 22% below U.S. |
| Douglas and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,999 28% above U.S. |
$3,564Lowest 14% above U.S. |
$6,338Highest 103% above U.S. |
$4,150 33% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.7%±6.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
38.2%±12.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
33.9%±17.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
49.7%±8.6Highest 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% |
11.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
13.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
50.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
58.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1956 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1954Lowest 26 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 16% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 5% below U.S. |
34 minHighest 28% above U.S. |
31 min 16% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 8%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.7%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.9%±4.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Douglas and Gardner 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 | #128 of 149 in CT | #177 of 282 in MA | #273 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Webster | — | Douglas | Gardner |
| High school in town | Bartlett High School | — | Douglas High School | Gardner High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6 |
— | 7.2Lowest |
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.