Compare towns
Webster vs Thompson vs Gardner vs Whitman
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).
Thompson has the oldest population (median age 54.1).
Gardner has the most people working from home (13.3%).
Whitman has the most expensive homes ($473k 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 | Whitman |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,748 |
9,337Lowest |
21,148Highest |
15,295 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +5.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.9±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S. |
43.7±2.3 12% above U.S. |
40.4±1.8 4% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.3%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±3.5Highest 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%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.6%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±2.1Lowest 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% |
31.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Webster and Whitman 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±$18k 16% above U.S. |
$67,518±$8kLowest 16% below U.S. |
$108,933±$14kHighest 35% above U.S. |
| Whitman and Thompson 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. |
$472,700±$12kHighest 42% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,228±$81 13% below U.S. |
$1,012±$344Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,109±$51 22% below U.S. |
$1,771±$151Highest 25% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,999 28% above U.S. |
$3,822Lowest 23% above U.S. |
$4,150 33% above U.S. |
$5,824Highest 87% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.7%±6.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54%±18.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
49.7%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
61.9%±13.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Whitman and Thompson 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% |
7.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
58.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.4% 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. |
1957 23 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minLowest 16% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
31 minLowest 16% above U.S. |
36 minHighest 37% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 8%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±2.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Gardner and Thompson 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 | #191 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Webster | Thompson School District | Gardner | Whitman-Hanson |
| High school in town | Bartlett High School | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | Gardner High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6 |
7.9Lowest |
13.5Highest |
— |
| 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.