Compare towns
Dalton 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
Dalton has the shortest commute (22 min average).
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 | Dalton | Gardner | Westminster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,256Lowest |
21,148Highest |
8,374 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+5.2% MA: +7.4% |
+12.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.7±5.8Highest 24% above MA |
43.7±2.3Lowest 9% above MA |
48.3±4.6 21% above MA |
| Dalton and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.6%±4.7 MA: 19.4% |
18.3%±2.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.3%±4.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Westminster and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27.9%±5.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.6%±2.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
26%±5.7 MA: 17.9% |
| Dalton and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.3% MA: 47.3% |
23.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
45.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.6 MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
1.8%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Gardner and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $79,438±$8k 24% below MA |
$67,518±$8kLowest 35% below MA |
$106,331±$22kHighest about the MA average |
| Westminster and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $295,700±$26kLowest 47% below MA |
$301,600±$20k 46% below MA |
$422,000±$36kHighest 25% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $872±$70Lowest 51% below MA |
$1,109±$51 37% below MA |
$1,843±$268Highest 5% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,276 29% below MA |
$4,150Lowest 31% below MA |
$4,973Highest 17% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.2%±19Lowest 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 | 7.4% MA: 10% |
13.7%Highest MA: 10% |
2.3%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.7% MA: 62.5% |
58.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
87.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1957 7 yrs older than MA |
1954Lowest 10 yrs older than MA |
1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 24% below MA |
31 minHighest 5% above MA |
27 min 7% below MA |
| Work from home | 12.5%±7.1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
13.3%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.5%±4.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Gardner and Dalton 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 | #192 of 282 in MA | #273 of 282 in MA | #112 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Central Berkshire | Gardner | Ashburnham-Westminster |
| High school in town | Wahconah Regional High | Gardner High | Oakmont Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.9Lowest |
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.