Compare towns
Gardner vs Clinton vs Westminster
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Gardner has the most affordable homes ($302k median).
Clinton has the youngest population (median age 38.6).
Westminster has the most homeowners (87.6%).
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 | Clinton | Westminster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 21,148Highest |
15,563 |
8,374Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+13.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+12.9% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±2.3 9% above MA |
38.6±2.7Lowest 4% below MA |
48.3±4.6Highest 21% above MA |
| Westminster and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.3%±2.3 MA: 19.4% |
17.8%±2.5Lowest 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+ | 19.6%±2.2 MA: 17.9% |
14.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
26%±5.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Westminster and Gardner 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 MA: 47.3% |
36.6% MA: 47.3% |
45.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
6.9%±2Highest MA: 7.9% |
1.8%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Clinton 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±$8kLowest 35% below MA |
$89,781±$10k 14% below MA |
$106,331±$22kHighest about the MA average |
| Westminster and Clinton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $301,600±$20kLowest 46% below MA |
$387,300±$19k 31% below MA |
$422,000±$36kHighest 25% below MA |
| Westminster and Clinton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,109±$51Lowest 37% below MA |
$1,402±$76 20% below MA |
$1,843±$268Highest 5% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,150Lowest 31% below MA |
$4,654 22% below MA |
$4,973Highest 17% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.7%±8.6 MA: 51.8% |
40.3%±6.4Lowest 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 | 13.7%Highest MA: 10% |
8.6% MA: 10% |
2.3%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.9% MA: 62.5% |
54.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
87.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1954Lowest 10 yrs older than MA |
1956 8 yrs older than MA |
1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 5% above MA |
30 min about the MA average |
27 minLowest 7% below MA |
| Work from home | 13.3%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
14.2%±4.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.5%±4.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Clinton 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 | #246 of 282 in MA | #112 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Gardner | Clinton | Ashburnham-Westminster |
| High school in town | Gardner High | Clinton Senior High | Oakmont Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5 |
12.8Lowest |
13.6Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.