Compare towns
Barre 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
Barre has the highest household income ($108k).
Gardner has the most affordable homes ($302k median).
Westminster has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.9%).
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 | Barre | Gardner | Westminster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,572Lowest |
21,148Highest |
8,374 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+5.2% MA: +7.4% |
+12.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.8±8.5 9% above MA |
43.7±2.3Lowest 9% above MA |
48.3±4.6Highest 21% above MA |
| Westminster and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.8%±5.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
18.3%±2.3 MA: 19.4% |
21.3%±4.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Westminster and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19%±5.6Lowest 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+ | 31.6% MA: 47.3% |
23.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
45.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±3.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
1.8%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Barre and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $107,727±$13kHighest 4% above MA |
$67,518±$8kLowest 35% below MA |
$106,331±$22k about the MA average |
| Barre and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $394,300±$55k 30% below MA |
$301,600±$20kLowest 46% below MA |
$422,000±$36kHighest 25% below MA |
| Westminster and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,030±$713Lowest 42% below MA |
$1,109±$51 37% below MA |
$1,843±$268Highest 5% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,163Highest 14% below MA |
$4,150Lowest 31% below MA |
$4,973 17% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.2%±27.5Lowest 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 | 8.2% MA: 10% |
13.7%Highest MA: 10% |
2.3%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.8% MA: 62.5% |
58.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
87.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
1954Lowest 10 yrs older than MA |
1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 24% above MA |
31 min 5% above MA |
27 minLowest 7% below MA |
| Work from home | 11.2%±4.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
13.3%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.5%±4.2 MA: 18.6% |
| Gardner and Westminster 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 | #134 of 282 in MA | #273 of 282 in MA | #112 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Quabbin | Gardner | Ashburnham-Westminster |
| High school in town | Quabbin Regional High School | Gardner High | Oakmont Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9Lowest |
13.5 |
13.6Highest |
| 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.