Compare towns
Gardner vs Union 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 renters (41.1% rent).
Union has the most homeowners (92.9%).
Westminster has the most expensive homes ($422k median).
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 | Union | Westminster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 21,148Highest |
944Lowest |
8,374 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +12.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±2.3Lowest 12% above U.S. |
49.9±4.3Highest 28% above U.S. |
48.3±4.6 24% above U.S. |
| Union 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% |
16.9%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±4.4Highest 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% |
24.5%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
26%±5.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Westminster and Union 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% |
24% U.S.: 35.7% |
45.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±3.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.8%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Union 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. |
$88,958±$14k 10% above U.S. |
$106,331±$22kHighest 32% above U.S. |
| Westminster and Union 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. |
$330,400±$26k about the U.S. average |
$422,000±$36kHighest 27% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,109±$51Lowest 22% below U.S. |
— | $1,843±$268Highest 30% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,150Lowest 33% above U.S. |
$4,793 54% above U.S. |
$4,973Highest 59% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.7%±8.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
90%±64.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
60%±27.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Union 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% |
5.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1954Lowest 26 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 16% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 13.3%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.5%±4.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | — | #112 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Gardner | Union School District | Ashburnham-Westminster |
| High school in town | Gardner High | None in town | Oakmont Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Lowest |
— | 13.6Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.