Compare towns
Gardner vs Plainfield 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).
Plainfield has the most people working from home (16.4%).
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 |
1,314Lowest |
17,748 |
8,374 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.6%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. |
48.1±5.5 24% above U.S. |
39.9±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
48.3±4.6Highest 24% above U.S. |
| Westminster and Plainfield 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% |
16.3%±4.7Lowest 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% |
21.1%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.6%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26%±5.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Westminster and Plainfield 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% |
48.2%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% |
2.1%±1.3 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. |
$69,250±$31k 14% below U.S. |
$72,895±$6k 10% below U.S. |
$106,331±$22kHighest 32% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $301,600±$20kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$318,400±$34k 4% below U.S. |
$361,500±$12k 9% above U.S. |
$422,000±$36kHighest 27% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,109±$51Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,153±$103 18% below U.S. |
$1,228±$81 13% below U.S. |
$1,843±$268Highest 30% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,150 33% above U.S. |
$4,806 54% above U.S. |
$3,999Lowest 28% above U.S. |
$4,973Highest 59% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.7%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
73.2%±53.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.7%±6.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
60%±27.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Plainfield 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% |
11.6% 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% |
80.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1954Lowest 26 yrs older than U.S. |
1955 25 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 minHighest 16% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 9% 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% |
16.4%±4.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.5%±4.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Plainfield 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 | — | 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 |
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.