Compare towns
Webster vs Warner vs Whitman 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
Warner has the most people working from home (16.6%).
Whitman has the most expensive homes ($473k median).
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 | Warner | Whitman | Gardner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,748 |
2,959Lowest |
15,295 |
21,148Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.9±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
43.7±4Highest 12% above U.S. |
40.4±1.8 4% above U.S. |
43.7±2.3Highest 12% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
17.3%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.3%±2.3 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% |
20.4%±3.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.6%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Warner 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% |
42.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
31.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
23.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Webster and Warner 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. |
$94,022±$18k 16% above U.S. |
$108,933±$14kHighest 35% above U.S. |
$67,518±$8kLowest 16% below U.S. |
| Whitman and Warner 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. |
$353,100±$22k 6% above U.S. |
$472,700±$12kHighest 42% above U.S. |
$301,600±$20kLowest 9% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,228±$81 13% below U.S. |
$1,219±$123 14% below U.S. |
$1,771±$151Highest 25% above U.S. |
$1,109±$51Lowest 22% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,999Lowest 28% above U.S. |
$7,650Highest 145% above U.S. |
$5,824 87% above U.S. |
$4,150 33% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.7%±6.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.7%±21.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
61.9%±13.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
49.7%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Whitman 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% |
8.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
13.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
74.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
58.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1957 23 yrs older than U.S. |
1954Lowest 26 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minLowest 16% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
36 minHighest 37% above U.S. |
31 minLowest 16% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 8%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.6%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±2.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Warner 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 | — | #191 of 282 in MA | #273 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Webster | Kearsarge Regional School District | Whitman-Hanson | Gardner |
| High school in town | Bartlett High School | None in town | None in town | Gardner High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6Lowest |
— | — | 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.