Compare towns
Webster vs Thompson 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).
Thompson has the most homeowners (84.3%).
Gardner has the oldest housing (typical home built 1954).
Clinton has the most expensive homes ($387k 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 | Thompson | Gardner | Clinton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,748 |
9,337Lowest |
21,148Highest |
15,563 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% 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 |
54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S. |
43.7±2.3 12% above U.S. |
38.6±2.7Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±2.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.3%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
17.8%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Webster and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.6%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.6%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Thompson 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
21.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
23.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
36.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Clinton 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. |
$93,629±$18kHighest 16% above U.S. |
$67,518±$8kLowest 16% below U.S. |
$89,781±$10k 11% above U.S. |
| Thompson and Clinton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $361,500±$12k 9% above U.S. |
$291,900±$24kLowest 12% below U.S. |
$301,600±$20k 9% below U.S. |
$387,300±$19kHighest 16% above U.S. |
| Clinton and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,228±$81 13% below U.S. |
$1,012±$344Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,109±$51 22% below U.S. |
$1,402±$76Highest about the U.S. average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,999 28% above U.S. |
$3,822Lowest 23% above U.S. |
$4,150 33% above U.S. |
$4,654Highest 49% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.7%±6.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
54%±18.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
49.7%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
40.3%±6.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Thompson 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% |
5.9%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% |
84.3%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. |
1963Highest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1954Lowest 26 yrs older than U.S. |
1956 24 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 16% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
31 min 16% above U.S. |
30 minLowest 13% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 8%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.2%±4.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Clinton 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 | #130 of 149 in CT | #273 of 282 in MA | #246 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Webster | Thompson School District | Gardner | Clinton |
| High school in town | Bartlett High School | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | Gardner High | Clinton Senior High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6 |
7.9Lowest |
13.5Highest |
12.8 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.