Compare towns
Brookline vs Gardner vs Webster vs Westminster
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brookline has the most homeowners (84.9%).
Gardner has the most renters (41.1% rent).
Webster has the most expensive homes ($362k median).
Westminster has the most kids (28.4% under 18).
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 | Brookline | Gardner | Webster | Westminster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 531 |
21,148Highest |
17,748 |
497Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 45.1±2.7Highest 16% above U.S. |
43.7±2.3 12% above U.S. |
39.9±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
43.3±11.5 11% above U.S. |
| Brookline and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20%±6 U.S.: 22% |
18.3%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
28.4%±7.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Westminster and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.6%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.6%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.6%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±11.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Westminster and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
23.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
25.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
45.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Webster and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $80,833±$16k about the U.S. average |
$67,518±$8kLowest 16% below U.S. |
$72,895±$6k 10% below U.S. |
$81,000±$22kHighest about the U.S. average |
| Westminster and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $290,700±$37kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$301,600±$20k 9% below U.S. |
$361,500±$12kHighest 9% above U.S. |
$313,600±$39k 6% below U.S. |
| Webster and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,732±$232Highest 23% above U.S. |
$1,109±$51 22% below U.S. |
$1,228±$81 13% below U.S. |
$749±$315Lowest 47% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,000Highest 60% above U.S. |
$4,150 33% above U.S. |
$3,999Lowest 28% above U.S. |
$4,480 44% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.8%±94.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
49.7%±8.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.7%±6.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
6.1%±43.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Gardner and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
13.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
58.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1954 26 yrs older than U.S. |
1962 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 8% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 16% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 16% above U.S. |
30 min 13% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.6%±5.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
8%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.1%±15.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Westminster and Brookline 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 | #271 of 282 in MA | #53 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | Gardner | Webster | — |
| High school in town | — | Gardner High | Bartlett High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.5Highest |
11.6Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.