Compare towns
Webster vs Upton vs Sutton vs Gardner
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).
Upton has the most expensive homes ($577k median).
Sutton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.7%).
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 | Sutton | Gardner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,748 |
8,189 |
2,239Lowest |
21,148Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.9±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
46.4±4.8 19% above U.S. |
48.1±4.1Highest 24% above U.S. |
43.7±2.3 12% above U.S. |
| Sutton and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±3.8 U.S.: 22% |
18.3%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Upton and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.6%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.6%±5.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.6%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Sutton and Upton 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% |
53.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
23.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±3.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Webster and Sutton 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. |
$155,508±$33kHighest 93% above U.S. |
$130,313±$31k 61% above U.S. |
$67,518±$8kLowest 16% below U.S. |
| Upton and Sutton 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. |
$576,700±$41kHighest 73% above U.S. |
$362,600±$16k 9% above U.S. |
$301,600±$20kLowest 9% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,228±$81 13% below U.S. |
$948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$1,656±$614Highest 17% above U.S. |
$1,109±$51 22% below U.S. |
| Sutton and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,999Lowest 28% above U.S. |
$8,376Highest 169% above U.S. |
$7,652 145% above U.S. |
$4,150 33% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.7%±6.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
27.6%±47.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
49.7%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
13.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
58.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1954Lowest 26 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 16% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 11% above U.S. |
31 min 16% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 8%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.8%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Upton 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 | #46 of 282 in MA | — | #273 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Webster | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Kearsarge Regional School District | Gardner |
| High school in town | Bartlett High School | Blackstone Valley | Kearsarge Regional High School | Gardner High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6 |
11.2 |
10.4Lowest |
13.5Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 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.