Compare towns
Webster vs Sutton vs Canton vs Gardner
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).
Sutton has the most homeowners (89.7%).
Canton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13%).
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 | Sutton | Canton | Gardner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,748 |
9,452Lowest |
24,748Highest |
21,148 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% MA: +7.4% |
+4.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+13%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+5.2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.9±2.9Lowest about the MA average |
44.3±2.5Highest 11% above MA |
42.6±2.3 7% above MA |
43.7±2.3 9% above MA |
| Sutton 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% |
19.6%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
22.9%±2.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.3%±2.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Canton 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 MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.6%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 25.3% MA: 47.3% |
52.8% MA: 47.3% |
67.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
23.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±1 MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
| Webster and Gardner 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 |
$147,125±$25kHighest 42% above MA |
$143,381±$9k 38% above MA |
$67,518±$8kLowest 35% below MA |
| Sutton and Canton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $361,500±$12k 36% below MA |
$523,100±$47k 7% below MA |
$710,600±$27kHighest 26% above MA |
$301,600±$20kLowest 46% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,228±$81 30% below MA |
$1,190±$401 32% below MA |
$2,315±$178Highest 31% above MA |
$1,109±$51Lowest 37% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,999Lowest 33% below MA |
$6,763Highest 13% above MA |
$6,560 9% above MA |
$4,150 31% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.7%±6.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4 MA: 51.8% |
52.4%±9.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
49.7%±8.6 MA: 51.8% |
| Canton 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% |
5.8% MA: 10% |
5.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
13.7%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.8% MA: 62.5% |
89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.6% MA: 62.5% |
58.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962 2 yrs older than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1980 16 yrs newer than MA |
1954Lowest 10 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 5% above MA |
30 minLowest about the MA average |
36 minHighest 23% above MA |
31 min 5% above MA |
| Work from home | 8%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1 MA: 18.6% |
25.7%±3.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
13.3%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
| Canton and Sutton 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 | #105 of 282 in MA | #81 of 282 in MA | #273 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Webster | Sutton | Blue Hills Regional Vocational Technical · Canton | Gardner |
| High school in town | Bartlett High School | Sutton High School | Canton High | Gardner High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6Lowest |
12.6 |
13.1 |
13.5Highest |
| 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.