Compare towns
Webster vs Ware vs Orange 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 most expensive homes ($362k median).
Ware has the shortest commute (28 min average).
Orange has the most affordable homes ($246k median).
Gardner has the most people working from home (13.3%).
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 | Ware | Orange | Gardner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,748 |
10,048 |
7,573Lowest |
21,148Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2% MA: +7.4% |
-3.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+5.2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.9±2.9Lowest about the MA average |
43.1±4.7 8% above MA |
41.8±2.2 4% above MA |
43.7±2.3Highest 9% above MA |
| Gardner and Ware 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% |
19.1%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
22.2%±3.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.3%±2.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Orange and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.6%±2.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.6%±3.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.3%±3.1 MA: 17.9% |
19.6%±2.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Ware and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 25.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
24% MA: 47.3% |
15.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
23.8% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
2%±0.9Lowest 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±$6kHighest 30% below MA |
$67,475±$15k 35% below MA |
$55,824±$10kLowest 46% below MA |
$67,518±$8k 35% below MA |
| Webster and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $361,500±$12kHighest 36% below MA |
$289,700±$28k 48% below MA |
$245,900±$18kLowest 56% below MA |
$301,600±$20k 46% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,228±$81Highest 30% below MA |
$1,043±$109 41% below MA |
$775±$233Lowest 56% below MA |
$1,109±$51 37% below MA |
| Webster and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,999Lowest 33% below MA |
$4,237Highest 29% below MA |
$4,136 31% below MA |
$4,150 31% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.7%±6.7 MA: 51.8% |
64.3%±16.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
41%±11.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
49.7%±8.6 MA: 51.8% |
| Ware 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% |
11.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
22.4%Highest MA: 10% |
13.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.8% MA: 62.5% |
72.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
70% MA: 62.5% |
58.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962 2 yrs older than MA |
1960 4 yrs older than MA |
1966Highest 2 yrs newer than MA |
1954Lowest 10 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 5% above MA |
28 minLowest about the MA average |
33 minHighest 13% above MA |
31 min 5% above MA |
| Work from home | 8%±2.5 MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
6.6%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
13.3%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Gardner and Ware 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 | #267 of 282 in MA | #275 of 282 in MA | #273 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Webster | Ware | Orange · Ralph C Mahar | Gardner |
| High school in town | Bartlett High School | Ware Junior/Senior High School | Ralph C Mahar Regional | Gardner High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6 |
11.1 |
9.0Lowest |
13.5Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.