Compare towns
Gardner vs Townsend 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).
Townsend has the highest household income ($122k).
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 | Townsend | Webster | Westminster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 21,148Highest |
9,100 |
17,748 |
8,374Lowest |
| 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 |
40.9±3.3 about the MA average |
39.9±2.9Lowest about the MA average |
48.3±4.6Highest 21% above MA |
| Westminster and Gardner 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% |
21%±3.2 MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±2.9 MA: 19.4% |
21.3%±4.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Westminster and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.6%±2.2 MA: 17.9% |
17.1%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.6%±2.5 MA: 17.9% |
26%±5.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Westminster and Gardner 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% |
35.5% MA: 47.3% |
25.3% MA: 47.3% |
45.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.4 MA: 7.9% |
5.8%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
1.8%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Webster and Townsend 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 35% below MA |
$121,528±$23kHighest 17% above MA |
$72,895±$6k 30% below MA |
$106,331±$22k about the MA average |
| Townsend 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 46% below MA |
$433,200±$22kHighest 23% below MA |
$361,500±$12k 36% below MA |
$422,000±$36k 25% below MA |
| Townsend and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,109±$51Lowest 37% below MA |
$1,469±$313 17% below MA |
$1,228±$81 30% below MA |
$1,843±$268Highest 5% above MA |
| Westminster and Townsend 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 |
$6,031Highest about the MA average |
$3,999Lowest 33% below MA |
$4,973 17% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.7%±8.6 MA: 51.8% |
50.6%±16.8 MA: 51.8% |
45.7%±6.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
60%±27.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Westminster and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 13.7%Highest MA: 10% |
8.9% MA: 10% |
12.7% MA: 10% |
2.3%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
82% MA: 62.5% |
59.8% MA: 62.5% |
87.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1954Lowest 10 yrs older than MA |
1976 12 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 |
37 minHighest 27% above MA |
31 min 5% above MA |
27 minLowest 7% below MA |
| Work from home | 13.3%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2.8 MA: 18.6% |
8%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
12.5%±4.2 MA: 18.6% |
| Gardner and Westminster 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 | #136 of 282 in MA | #271 of 282 in MA | #112 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Gardner | North Middlesex | Webster | Ashburnham-Westminster |
| High school in town | Gardner High | North Middlesex Regional | Bartlett High School | Oakmont Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5 |
13.1 |
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.