Compare towns
Gardner vs Plainfield vs Webster vs Westminster
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 affordable homes ($302k median).
Plainfield has the most people working from home (26.2%).
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 | Plainfield | Webster | Westminster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 21,148Highest |
616Lowest |
17,748 |
8,374 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.2% MA: +7.4% |
-2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6% MA: +7.4% |
+12.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±2.3 9% above MA |
50.6±9.5Highest 27% above MA |
39.9±2.9Lowest about the MA average |
48.3±4.6 21% above MA |
| Plainfield 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 MA: 19.4% |
19%±9.3 MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±2.9 MA: 19.4% |
21.3%±4.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
| 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 MA: 17.9% |
29.5%±7.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.6%±2.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
26%±5.7 MA: 17.9% |
| Plainfield 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 MA: 47.3% |
52.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
25.3% MA: 47.3% |
45.9% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±2.5 MA: 7.9% |
5.8%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
1.8%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Webster and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $67,518±$8k 35% below MA |
$63,500±$14kLowest 39% below MA |
$72,895±$6k 30% below MA |
$106,331±$22kHighest about the MA average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $301,600±$20kLowest 46% below MA |
$309,000±$47k 45% below MA |
$361,500±$12k 36% below MA |
$422,000±$36kHighest 25% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,109±$51Lowest 37% below MA |
$1,292±$558 27% below MA |
$1,228±$81 30% below MA |
$1,843±$268Highest 5% above MA |
| Westminster and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,150 31% below MA |
$4,458 26% below MA |
$3,999Lowest 33% below MA |
$4,973Highest 17% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.7%±8.6 MA: 51.8% |
40%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
45.7%±6.7 MA: 51.8% |
60%±27.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
| 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% MA: 10% |
16.9%Highest MA: 10% |
12.7% MA: 10% |
2.3%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
98%Highest MA: 62.5% |
59.8% MA: 62.5% |
87.6% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1954Lowest 10 yrs older than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1962 2 yrs older than MA |
1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 5% above MA |
38 minHighest 30% above MA |
31 min 5% above MA |
27 minLowest 7% below MA |
| Work from home | 13.3%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
26.2%±8.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
8%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
12.5%±4.2 MA: 18.6% |
| 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 | — | Webster | Ashburnham-Westminster |
| High school in town | Gardner High | — | 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 |
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.