Compare towns
Webster vs Whitman vs Williston 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).
Whitman has the most kids (21.1% under 18).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
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 | Whitman | Williston | Gardner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,748 |
15,295 |
10,144Lowest |
21,148Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.9±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
40.4±1.8 4% above U.S. |
45.4±4.5Highest 17% above U.S. |
43.7±2.3 12% above U.S. |
| Williston 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 U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
18.3%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Whitman and Williston 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% |
15.5%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21%±3.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.6%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Williston 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% |
31.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
23.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Webster and Williston 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. |
$108,933±$14kHighest 35% above U.S. |
$106,967±$12k 32% above U.S. |
$67,518±$8kLowest 16% below U.S. |
| Whitman and Williston 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. |
$472,700±$12k 42% above U.S. |
$475,800±$40kHighest 43% above U.S. |
$301,600±$20kLowest 9% below U.S. |
| Williston and Whitman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,228±$81 13% below U.S. |
$1,771±$151 25% above U.S. |
$1,832±$130Highest 30% above U.S. |
$1,109±$51Lowest 22% below U.S. |
| Williston and Whitman 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. |
$5,824Highest 87% above U.S. |
$5,592 79% above U.S. |
$4,150 33% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.7%±6.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
61.9%±13.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±17.4 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% |
7.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
13.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
58.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1957 23 yrs older than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1954Lowest 26 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 16% above U.S. |
36 minHighest 37% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
31 min 16% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 8%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±2.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Williston 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 | #11 of 70 in VT | #273 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Webster | Whitman-Hanson | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | 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.