Compare towns
Ayer vs Gardner vs Westminster
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ayer has the most people working from home (21.6%).
Gardner has the most affordable homes ($302k median).
Westminster has the most homeowners (87.6%).
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 | Ayer | Gardner | Westminster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,645 |
21,148Highest |
8,374Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+5.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+12.9% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.2±2.8Lowest about the MA average |
43.7±2.3 9% above MA |
48.3±4.6Highest 21% above MA |
| Westminster and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.3%±3.9 MA: 19.4% |
18.3%±2.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.3%±4.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Westminster and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 14.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.6%±2.2 MA: 17.9% |
26%±5.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Westminster and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.3% MA: 47.3% |
23.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
45.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
1.8%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Gardner and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $101,875±$15k about the MA average |
$67,518±$8kLowest 35% below MA |
$106,331±$22kHighest about the MA average |
| Westminster and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $463,800±$29kHighest 17% below MA |
$301,600±$20kLowest 46% below MA |
$422,000±$36k 25% below MA |
| Ayer and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,415±$180 20% below MA |
$1,109±$51Lowest 37% below MA |
$1,843±$268Highest 5% above MA |
| Westminster and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,057Highest 16% below MA |
$4,150Lowest 31% below MA |
$4,973 17% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±14.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
49.7%±8.6 MA: 51.8% |
60%±27.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Westminster and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.7% MA: 10% |
13.7%Highest MA: 10% |
2.3%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2% MA: 62.5% |
58.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
87.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
1954Lowest 10 yrs older than MA |
1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 13% above MA |
31 min 5% above MA |
27 minLowest 7% below MA |
| Work from home | 21.6%±5.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
13.3%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
12.5%±4.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Ayer 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 | #113 of 282 in MA | #273 of 282 in MA | #112 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ayer Shirley School District | Gardner | Ashburnham-Westminster |
| High school in town | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | Gardner High | Oakmont Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.5Lowest |
13.5 |
13.6Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 12 photos → | 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.