Compare towns
Gardner vs Ripton 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).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Westminster has the most kids (21.3% under 18).
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 | Ripton | Westminster | Spencer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 21,148Highest |
508Lowest |
8,374 |
12,008 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+25.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±2.3Lowest 12% above U.S. |
47.7±14.2 23% 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% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±4.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.4%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Westminster and Gardner 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% |
30.5%±7.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
26%±5.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
26%±4.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ripton 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% |
48%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% |
20.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.8%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $67,518±$8kLowest 16% below U.S. |
$112,917±$15kHighest 40% above U.S. |
$106,331±$22k 32% above U.S. |
$80,533±$11k about the U.S. average |
| Ripton 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. |
$394,400±$61k 19% above U.S. |
$422,000±$36kHighest 27% above U.S. |
$382,000±$22k 15% above U.S. |
| Westminster and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,109±$51 22% below U.S. |
— | $1,843±$268Highest 30% above U.S. |
$1,078±$161Lowest 24% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,150Lowest 33% above U.S. |
$4,915 58% above U.S. |
$4,973Highest 59% above U.S. |
$4,387 41% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.7%±8.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.9%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
60%±27.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±10.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Westminster and Ripton 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% |
8.6% 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% |
90.9%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. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 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. |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.3%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±8.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.5%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15%±7.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ripton 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 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | 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 | 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.