Compare towns
Gardner vs Everett vs Westminster vs West Springfield Town
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 people working from home (13.3%).
Everett has the most expensive homes ($610k median).
Westminster has the most homeowners (87.6%).
West Springfield Town has the shortest commute (19 min average).
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 | Everett | Westminster | West Springfield Town |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 21,148 |
50,045Highest |
8,374Lowest |
28,772 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.2% MA: +7.4% |
+17.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+12.9% MA: +7.4% |
+1.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±2.3 9% above MA |
35.2±1.5Lowest 12% below MA |
48.3±4.6Highest 21% above MA |
40.1±2.6 about the MA average |
| 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%±2.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.8%±2.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.3%±4.4 MA: 19.4% |
18.9%±2.3 MA: 19.4% |
| Everett and Westminster 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% |
11.3%±1.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
26%±5.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.5%±1.7 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% |
24.9% MA: 47.3% |
45.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
34% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
6.3%±0.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
1.8%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.7%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
| Everett and West Springfield Town 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 |
$85,218±$7k 18% below MA |
$106,331±$22kHighest about the MA average |
$69,371±$7k 33% below MA |
| Westminster and Everett 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 |
$610,000±$23kHighest 9% above MA |
$422,000±$36k 25% below MA |
$321,500±$16k 43% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,109±$51Lowest 37% below MA |
$2,076±$69Highest 18% above MA |
$1,843±$268 5% above MA |
$1,144±$68 35% below MA |
| Everett and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,150Lowest 31% below MA |
$4,880 19% below MA |
$4,973Highest 17% below MA |
$4,380 27% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.7%±8.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±5.8 MA: 51.8% |
60%±27.3 MA: 51.8% |
60.1%±9.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
| West Springfield Town and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 13.7% MA: 10% |
14.7%Highest MA: 10% |
2.3%Lowest MA: 10% |
11.9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.9% MA: 62.5% |
37.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
87.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
58.5% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1954 10 yrs older than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
1958 6 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 5% above MA |
35 minHighest 20% above MA |
27 min 7% below MA |
19 minLowest 34% below MA |
| Work from home | 13.3%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2 MA: 18.6% |
12.5%±4.2 MA: 18.6% |
10.4%±2.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Gardner and Westminster 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 | #264 of 282 in MA | #112 of 282 in MA | #218 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Gardner | Everett | Ashburnham-Westminster | West Springfield |
| High school in town | Gardner High | Everett High | Oakmont Regional High School | West Springfield High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5 |
12.1Lowest |
13.6Highest |
13.1 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.