Compare towns
Gardner vs Jackson 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).
Jackson has grown the fastest since 2010 (+26%).
Webster has the youngest population (median age 39.9).
Westminster has the most kids (21.3% under 18).
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 | Jackson | Webster | Westminster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 21,148Highest |
897Lowest |
17,748 |
8,374 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+26%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±2.3 12% above U.S. |
60.5±2.5Highest 56% above U.S. |
39.9±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
48.3±4.6 24% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 18.3%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
4.1%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±4.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Westminster and Webster 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% |
28.4%±6.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.6%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26%±5.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Jackson 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% |
67.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
25.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
45.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±3.4 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. |
$117,986±$46kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$72,895±$6k 10% below U.S. |
$106,331±$22k 32% above U.S. |
| Jackson 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. |
$719,300±$109kHighest 116% above U.S. |
$361,500±$12k 9% above U.S. |
$422,000±$36k 27% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,109±$51Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,750±$1k 24% above U.S. |
$1,228±$81 13% below U.S. |
$1,843±$268Highest 30% above U.S. |
| Westminster and Jackson 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. |
$6,001Highest 92% 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% |
21.1%±59.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.7%±6.7 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
16.9%Highest 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% |
91.4%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. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1962 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 16% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 16% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 13.3%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.2%±10.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.5%±4.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Jackson 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 | — | #271 of 282 in MA | #112 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Gardner | Jackson School District | Webster | Ashburnham-Westminster |
| High school in town | Gardner High | None in town | Bartlett High School | Oakmont Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5 |
— | 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.