Compare towns
Gardner vs Glocester vs Webster 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 affordable homes ($302k median).
Glocester has the highest household income ($114k).
Webster has the youngest population (median age 39.9).
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 | Glocester | Webster | Westminster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 21,148Highest |
10,221 |
17,748 |
8,374Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±2.3 12% above U.S. |
50.8±4.3Highest 31% above U.S. |
39.9±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
48.3±4.6 24% above U.S. |
| Glocester and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.3%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±4.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Westminster and Glocester 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% |
22.2%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.6%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26%±5.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Westminster and Glocester 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% |
35.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
25.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
45.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.8%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Webster 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 16% below U.S. |
$113,508±$7kHighest 41% above U.S. |
$72,895±$6k 10% below U.S. |
$106,331±$22k 32% above U.S. |
| Glocester and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $301,600±$20kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$396,500±$28k 19% above U.S. |
$361,500±$12k 9% above U.S. |
$422,000±$36kHighest 27% above U.S. |
| Westminster and Glocester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,109±$51Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,417±$627 about the U.S. average |
$1,228±$81 13% below U.S. |
$1,843±$268Highest 30% above U.S. |
| Westminster and Glocester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,150 33% above U.S. |
$5,248Highest 68% above U.S. |
$3,999Lowest 28% above U.S. |
$4,973 59% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.7%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
64.5%±24Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.7%±6.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
60%±27.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Glocester and Westminster 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% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1954Lowest 26 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1962 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 16% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
31 min 16% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 13.3%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
8%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.5%±4.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Gardner and Glocester 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 | #12 of 38 in RI | #271 of 282 in MA | #112 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Gardner | Foster-Glocester · Glocester | Webster | Ashburnham-Westminster |
| High school in town | Gardner High | Ponaganset High School | Bartlett High School | Oakmont Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5 |
12.8 |
11.6Lowest |
13.6Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.