Compare towns
Williamsburg vs Gardner vs Pelham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Williamsburg has the oldest population (median age 50).
Gardner has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.2%).
Pelham has the most people working from home (32.8%).
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 | Williamsburg | Gardner | Pelham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,694 |
21,148Highest |
1,335Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.9% MA: +7.4% |
+5.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50±2.4Highest 25% above MA |
43.7±2.3Lowest 9% above MA |
45±8.4 13% above MA |
| Williamsburg and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±4 MA: 19.4% |
18.3%±2.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21%±4.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Pelham and Williamsburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.7%±3.5 MA: 17.9% |
19.6%±2.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
26.7%±6.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Pelham and Williamsburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 60.6% MA: 47.3% |
23.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
64.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±2.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
2%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Williamsburg and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $104,792±$21k about the MA average |
$67,518±$8kLowest 35% below MA |
$113,750±$24kHighest 9% above MA |
| Pelham and Williamsburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $403,100±$37k 28% below MA |
$301,600±$20kLowest 46% below MA |
$447,600±$33kHighest 20% below MA |
| Pelham and Williamsburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,420±$228Highest 19% below MA |
$1,109±$51Lowest 37% below MA |
$1,205±$560 32% below MA |
| Williamsburg and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,761 4% below MA |
$4,150Lowest 31% below MA |
$7,472Highest 25% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61%±28Highest MA: 51.8% |
49.7%±8.6 MA: 51.8% |
42.7%±35.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Williamsburg and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.3%Lowest MA: 10% |
13.7%Highest MA: 10% |
10.3% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
58.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
79.1% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955 9 yrs older than MA |
1954Lowest 10 yrs older than MA |
1958Highest 6 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 13% below MA |
31 minHighest 5% above MA |
23 minLowest 21% below MA |
| Work from home | 26.5%±6.7 MA: 18.6% |
13.3%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
32.8%±7.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Pelham and Williamsburg 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 | — | #273 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Williamsburg | Gardner | Pelham |
| High school in town | None in town | Gardner High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.5 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.