Compare towns
Webster vs Rowe 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).
Rowe has the oldest population (median age 48.9).
Gardner has the most renters (41.1% rent).
Douglas has the highest household income ($152k).
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 | Rowe | Gardner | Douglas |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,748 |
453Lowest |
21,148Highest |
9,207 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
— | +5.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.9±2.9Lowest about the MA average |
48.9±6.4Highest 22% above MA |
43.7±2.3 9% above MA |
44±2.6 10% above MA |
| Rowe and Douglas 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% |
23%±5Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.3%±2.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.2%±3.8 MA: 19.4% |
| Rowe and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.6%±2.5 MA: 17.9% |
30.2%±8.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.6%±2.2 MA: 17.9% |
15.4%±3.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Rowe and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 25.3% MA: 47.3% |
26.2% MA: 47.3% |
23.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
41.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.3%±2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±2.3 MA: 7.9% |
| 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 30% below MA |
$69,583±$13k 33% below MA |
$67,518±$8kLowest 35% below MA |
$152,267±$10kHighest 46% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $361,500±$12k 36% below MA |
$275,000±$41kLowest 51% below MA |
$301,600±$20k 46% below MA |
$470,600±$29kHighest 16% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,228±$81 30% below MA |
$1,313±$576 25% below MA |
$1,109±$51Lowest 37% below MA |
$1,503±$697Highest 15% below MA |
| Douglas and Rowe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,999 33% below MA |
$1,458Lowest 76% below MA |
$4,150 31% below MA |
$6,338Highest 6% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.7%±6.7 MA: 51.8% |
11.8%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
49.7%±8.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
33.9%±17.4 MA: 51.8% |
| 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% MA: 10% |
15.8%Highest MA: 10% |
13.7% MA: 10% |
4.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.8% MA: 62.5% |
90.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
58.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.8% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962 2 yrs older than MA |
1959 5 yrs older than MA |
1954Lowest 10 yrs older than MA |
1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minLowest 5% above MA |
36 minHighest 22% above MA |
31 minLowest 5% above MA |
34 min 16% above MA |
| Work from home | 8%±2.5 MA: 18.6% |
7.2%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
13.3%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
20.9%±4.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
| 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 | — | #273 of 282 in MA | #177 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Webster | Rowe | Gardner | Douglas |
| High school in town | Bartlett High School | None in town | Gardner High | Douglas High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6 |
— | 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.