Compare towns
Dedham 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
Dedham has the most expensive homes ($662k median).
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 | Dedham | Gardner | Westminster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 25,237Highest |
21,148 |
8,374Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+5.2% MA: +7.4% |
+12.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±1.6 12% above MA |
43.7±2.3Lowest 9% above MA |
48.3±4.6Highest 21% above MA |
| Westminster and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±1.9 MA: 19.4% |
18.3%±2.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.3%±4.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Westminster and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±2 MA: 17.9% |
19.6%±2.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
26%±5.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Westminster and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55%Highest MA: 47.3% |
23.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
45.9% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
1.8%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Dedham and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $128,955±$10kHighest 24% above MA |
$67,518±$8kLowest 35% below MA |
$106,331±$22k about the MA average |
| Dedham and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $661,800±$16kHighest 18% above MA |
$301,600±$20kLowest 46% below MA |
$422,000±$36k 25% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,042±$182Highest 16% above MA |
$1,109±$51Lowest 37% below MA |
$1,843±$268 5% above MA |
| Dedham and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,918Highest 32% above MA |
$4,150Lowest 31% below MA |
$4,973 17% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±10 MA: 51.8% |
49.7%±8.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
60%±27.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Westminster and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.6% MA: 10% |
13.7%Highest MA: 10% |
2.3%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4% MA: 62.5% |
58.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
87.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956 8 yrs older than MA |
1954Lowest 10 yrs older than MA |
1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min about the MA average |
31 minHighest 5% above MA |
27 minLowest 7% below MA |
| Work from home | 20%±2.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
13.3%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
12.5%±4.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #119 of 282 in MA | #273 of 282 in MA | #112 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dedham | Gardner | Ashburnham-Westminster |
| High school in town | Dedham High | Gardner High | Oakmont Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4Lowest |
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.