Compare towns
Webster vs Upton vs Clinton vs Gardner
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Upton has the highest household income ($156k).
Clinton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13.4%).
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 | Upton | Clinton | Gardner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,748 |
8,189Lowest |
15,563 |
21,148Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% MA: +7.4% |
+6.1% MA: +7.4% |
+13.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+5.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.9±2.9 about the MA average |
46.4±4.8Highest 16% above MA |
38.6±2.7Lowest 4% below MA |
43.7±2.3 9% above MA |
| Upton 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% |
23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
17.8%±2.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
18.3%±2.3 MA: 19.4% |
| Upton 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 MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
14.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.6%±2.2 MA: 17.9% |
| Upton 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% |
53.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
36.6% MA: 47.3% |
23.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±1.6 MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.9%±2Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
| 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 30% below MA |
$155,508±$33kHighest 50% above MA |
$89,781±$10k 14% below MA |
$67,518±$8kLowest 35% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $361,500±$12k 36% below MA |
$576,700±$41kHighest about the MA average |
$387,300±$19k 31% below MA |
$301,600±$20kLowest 46% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,228±$81 30% below MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$1,402±$76Highest 20% below MA |
$1,109±$51 37% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,999Lowest 33% below MA |
$8,376Highest 40% above MA |
$4,654 22% below MA |
$4,150 31% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.7%±6.7 MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31Highest MA: 51.8% |
40.3%±6.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
49.7%±8.6 MA: 51.8% |
| Upton 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% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
8.6% MA: 10% |
13.7%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.8% MA: 62.5% |
86.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
54.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
58.9% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962 2 yrs older than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1956 8 yrs older than MA |
1954Lowest 10 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 5% above MA |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
30 minLowest about the MA average |
31 min 5% above MA |
| Work from home | 8%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
14.2%±4.2 MA: 18.6% |
13.3%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
| Upton and Clinton 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 | #46 of 282 in MA | #246 of 282 in MA | #273 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Webster | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Clinton | Gardner |
| High school in town | Bartlett High School | Blackstone Valley | Clinton Senior High | Gardner High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6 |
11.2Lowest |
12.8 |
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.