Compare towns
Gardner vs Chester 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
Gardner has the most renters (41.1% rent).
Chester has the most affordable homes ($233k 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 | Gardner | Chester | Westminster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 21,148Highest |
2,992Lowest |
8,374 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±2.3Lowest 12% above U.S. |
49.7±4.7Highest 28% above U.S. |
48.3±4.6 24% above U.S. |
| Chester and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.3%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±4.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Westminster and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.6%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
29.8%±7.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
26%±5.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Chester and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 23.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
33.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
45.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.8%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Chester and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $67,518±$8k 16% below U.S. |
$62,125±$8kLowest 23% below U.S. |
$106,331±$22kHighest 32% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $301,600±$20k 9% below U.S. |
$232,900±$44kLowest 30% below U.S. |
$422,000±$36kHighest 27% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,109±$51 22% below U.S. |
$960±$44Lowest 32% below U.S. |
$1,843±$268Highest 30% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,150Lowest 33% above U.S. |
$4,262 37% above U.S. |
$4,973Highest 59% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.7%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
11.5%±12.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
60%±27.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Westminster and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 13.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1954Lowest 26 yrs older than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 16% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 13.3%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.5%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Chester and Gardner 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 | #49 of 70 in VT | #112 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Gardner | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | Ashburnham-Westminster |
| High school in town | Gardner High | Green Mountain Union High School | Oakmont Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5 |
8.7Lowest |
13.6Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.