Compare towns
Webster vs Windham vs Clinton 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 most kids (19.6% under 18).
Windham has the most homeowners (84.6%).
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 | Windham | Clinton | Gardner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,748 |
19,188 |
15,563Lowest |
21,148Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+13.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.9±2.9 about the U.S. average |
41.8±1.8 7% above U.S. |
38.6±2.7Lowest about the U.S. average |
43.7±2.3Highest 12% above U.S. |
| Gardner and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±2.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
17.8%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.3%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Webster and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.6%±2.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.9%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.6%±2.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 25.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
23.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 10% below U.S. |
$107,934±$14kHighest 34% above U.S. |
$89,781±$10k 11% above U.S. |
$67,518±$8kLowest 16% below U.S. |
| Windham and Clinton 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. |
$388,900±$22kHighest 17% above U.S. |
$387,300±$19k 16% above U.S. |
$301,600±$20kLowest 9% below U.S. |
| Windham and Clinton 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. |
$1,232±$332 13% below U.S. |
$1,402±$76Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,109±$51Lowest 22% below U.S. |
| Clinton and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,999 28% above U.S. |
$3,938Lowest 26% above U.S. |
$4,654Highest 49% above U.S. |
$4,150 33% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.7%±6.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
32.7%±14.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
40.3%±6.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
49.7%±8.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Gardner and Webster 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% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
13.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
54.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
58.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1956 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1954Lowest 26 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 16% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
30 min 13% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 16% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 8%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.2%±4.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Windham 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 | #95 of 133 in ME | #246 of 282 in MA | #273 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Webster | RSU 14 | Clinton | Gardner |
| High school in town | Bartlett High School | Windham High School | Clinton Senior High | Gardner High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6Lowest |
12.1 |
12.8 |
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.