Compare towns
Brookfield 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
Brookfield has the oldest population (median age 52.4).
Gardner has the most renters (41.1% rent).
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 | Brookfield | Gardner | Westminster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,460Lowest |
21,148Highest |
8,374 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+5.2% MA: +7.4% |
+12.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52.4±2.1Highest 31% above MA |
43.7±2.3Lowest 9% above MA |
48.3±4.6 21% above MA |
| Brookfield and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.4%±4.7Lowest 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+ | 28.4%±5.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.6%±2.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
26%±5.7 MA: 17.9% |
| Brookfield and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.9% MA: 47.3% |
23.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
45.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±3.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
1.8%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Brookfield and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $81,250±$37k 22% below MA |
$67,518±$8kLowest 35% below MA |
$106,331±$22kHighest about the MA average |
| Westminster and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $341,900±$23k 39% below MA |
$301,600±$20kLowest 46% below MA |
$422,000±$36kHighest 25% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,014±$161Lowest 42% below MA |
$1,109±$51 37% below MA |
$1,843±$268Highest 5% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,092Highest 15% below MA |
$4,150Lowest 31% below MA |
$4,973 17% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.7%±11.7 MA: 51.8% |
49.7%±8.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
60%±27.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Westminster and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.9% MA: 10% |
13.7%Highest MA: 10% |
2.3%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.5% MA: 62.5% |
58.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
87.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA |
1954Lowest 10 yrs older than MA |
1977 13 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 11% above MA |
31 min 5% above MA |
27 minLowest 7% below MA |
| Work from home | 12%±5.5Lowest 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 | #109 of 282 in MA | #273 of 282 in MA | #112 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Brookfield | Gardner | Ashburnham-Westminster |
| High school in town | None in town | Gardner High | Oakmont Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.5Lowest |
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.