Signals
Gardner
Webster
Opportunity
45 · Bottom 27%
vs52 · Bottom 40%
Climate
60 · Bottom 14%
vs61 · Bottom 17%
Physical resilience
85 · Top 16%
vs85 · Top 16%
Housing affordability
80 · Bottom 49%
vs66 · Bottom 28%
Schools
20 · Bottom 11%
vs29 · Bottom 22%
Access
82 · Bottom 25%
vs85 · Bottom 29%
Economic stability
48 · Bottom 29%
vs58 · Bottom 44%
Measured values
| Metric | Gardner | Webster | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 21,148 | 12,228 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $67,518 | $63,837 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $37,215 | $36,043 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 958/sq mi | 4,116/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $301,600 | $333,100 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,109 | $1,198 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 58.9% | 45.5% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 5.1% | 4.2% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -1.3% | -1.3% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 23.8% | 18.8% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 13.7% | 16.0% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Average July high | 83°F | 80°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 16°F | 17°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 43.4" | 48.3" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 37 mi | 32 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 32.7 min | 30.5 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 43.7 | 37.2 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Public schools | 4 | 3 | 2024-25 school year |
| Students per teacher | 14.64 | 12.14 | 2024-25 school year |
| Math proficiency | 13.7% | 17.8% | 2019-20 school year |
| Reading proficiency | 29.2% | 29.2% | 2019-20 school year |
A bolded value is the more favorable of the two where the metric has a clear direction. Metrics like population and density have no inherent better or worse and are shown unweighted.
Physical risk tradeoff
Gardner
Elevated or high exposure: hurricane.
Webster
Elevated or high exposure: hurricane.
Full profiles: Gardner, MA · Webster, MA · How this is calculated: methodology