Compare towns
Webster vs Worcester vs Douglas vs Gardner
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Worcester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.1%).
Douglas has the highest household income ($152k).
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 | Worcester | Douglas | Gardner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,748 |
207,055Highest |
9,207Lowest |
21,148 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% MA: +7.4% |
+14.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6% MA: +7.4% |
+5.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.9±2.9 about the MA average |
33.9±0.5Lowest 15% below MA |
44±2.6Highest 10% above MA |
43.7±2.3 9% above MA |
| Douglas 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 MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±0.8 MA: 19.4% |
21.2%±3.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.3%±2.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Douglas and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.6%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
13.3%±0.6Lowest MA: 17.9% |
15.4%±3.1 MA: 17.9% |
19.6%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 25.3% MA: 47.3% |
35.2% MA: 47.3% |
41.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
23.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±1.6 MA: 7.9% |
14.1%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±2.3 MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $72,895±$6k 30% below MA |
$70,102±$2k 33% below MA |
$152,267±$10kHighest 46% above MA |
$67,518±$8kLowest 35% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $361,500±$12k 36% below MA |
$374,400±$7k 33% below MA |
$470,600±$29kHighest 16% below MA |
$301,600±$20kLowest 46% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,228±$81 30% below MA |
$1,487±$38 16% below MA |
$1,503±$697Highest 15% below MA |
$1,109±$51Lowest 37% below MA |
| Douglas and Worcester 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 |
$4,733 21% below MA |
$6,338Highest 6% above MA |
$4,150 31% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.7%±6.7 MA: 51.8% |
54.2%±2.9Highest MA: 51.8% |
33.9%±17.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
49.7%±8.6 MA: 51.8% |
| Worcester 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% |
19.6%Highest MA: 10% |
4.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
13.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.8% MA: 62.5% |
42.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
58.9% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962 2 yrs older than MA |
1951Lowest 13 yrs older than MA |
1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
1954 10 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 5% above MA |
24 minLowest 17% below MA |
34 minHighest 16% above MA |
31 min 5% above MA |
| Work from home | 8%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
11.5%±1 MA: 18.6% |
20.9%±4.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
13.3%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
| Douglas 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 | #266 of 282 in MA | #177 of 282 in MA | #273 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Webster | Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester | Douglas | Gardner |
| High school in town | Bartlett High School | South High Community | Douglas High School | Gardner High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6 |
14.6Highest |
7.2Lowest |
13.5 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 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.