Compare towns
Gardner vs Ogunquit vs Westminster vs Winchendon
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 renters (41.1% rent).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Winchendon has the youngest population (median age 39.6).
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 | Ogunquit | Westminster | Winchendon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 21,148Highest |
1,379Lowest |
8,374 |
10,440 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±2.3 12% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
48.3±4.6 24% above U.S. |
39.6±1.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Kids under 18 | 18.3%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Winchendon 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
26%±5.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.9%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 23.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
21.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.8%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Gardner and Winchendon 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. |
$114,259±$56kHighest 42% above U.S. |
$106,331±$22k 32% above U.S. |
$75,690±$14k 6% below U.S. |
| Ogunquit 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. |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
$422,000±$36k 27% above U.S. |
$323,800±$19k about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,109±$51Lowest 22% below U.S. |
— | $1,843±$268Highest 30% above U.S. |
$1,255±$163 11% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,150 33% above U.S. |
$4,473 43% above U.S. |
$4,973Highest 59% above U.S. |
$3,780Lowest 21% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.7%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
60%±27.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
61.7%±17.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Winchendon and Westminster 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% |
3.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
18.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
76.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1954Lowest 26 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer 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 |
32 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.3%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.5%±4.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.2%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #273 of 282 in MA | — | #112 of 282 in MA | #269 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Gardner | — | Ashburnham-Westminster | Winchendon |
| High school in town | Gardner High | — | Oakmont Regional High School | Murdock High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5 |
— | 13.6Highest |
11.3Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → |
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.