Compare towns
Gardner vs Newfields vs Westminster vs Spencer
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).
Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).
Westminster has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.9%).
Spencer has the oldest population (median age 48.9).
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 | Newfields | Westminster | Spencer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 21,148Highest |
2,023Lowest |
8,374 |
12,008 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±2.3Lowest 12% above U.S. |
44.1±1.8 13% above U.S. |
48.3±4.6 24% above U.S. |
48.9±6.8Highest 26% above U.S. |
| Spencer 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% |
18.9%±1.6 U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±4.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.4%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Westminster and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.6%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26%±5.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
26%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 23.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
68.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
29.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±7.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.8%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Newfields and Spencer 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. |
$197,885±$15kHighest 145% above U.S. |
$106,331±$22k 32% above U.S. |
$80,533±$11k about the U.S. average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $301,600±$20kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$646,400±$34kHighest 94% above U.S. |
$422,000±$36k 27% above U.S. |
$382,000±$22k 15% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,109±$51 22% below U.S. |
$1,875±$323Highest 33% above U.S. |
$1,843±$268 30% above U.S. |
$1,078±$161Lowest 24% below U.S. |
| Newfields and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,150Lowest 33% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,973 59% above U.S. |
$4,387 41% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.7%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
43.3%±40.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
60%±27.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±10.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Westminster and Spencer 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% |
2.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
63% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1954Lowest 26 yrs older than U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 16% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
27 min about the U.S. average |
34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.3%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
25.5%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.5%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15%±7.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Newfields and Spencer 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 | — | #112 of 282 in MA | #261 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Gardner | Newfields School District | Ashburnham-Westminster | Spencer-E Brookfield |
| High school in town | Gardner High | None in town | Oakmont Regional High School | David Prouty High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5 |
— | 13.6Highest |
9.9Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 7 photos → | 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.