Compare towns
Gardner vs Unity vs Ashburnham 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).
Unity has the oldest population (median age 58).
Ashburnham has the most people working from home (16%).
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 | Unity | Ashburnham | Westminster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 21,148Highest |
1,375Lowest |
6,415 |
8,374 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-9.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±2.3 12% above U.S. |
58±4.5Highest 49% above U.S. |
40.7±6.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
48.3±4.6 24% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 18.3%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
12%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.6%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Ashburnham and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.6%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
34.9%±7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.1%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26%±5.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Unity 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
21.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
44% U.S.: 35.7% |
45.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.8%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Ashburnham 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. |
$87,500±$16k 8% above U.S. |
$118,809±$11kHighest 47% above U.S. |
$106,331±$22k 32% above U.S. |
| Ashburnham 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±$20k 9% below U.S. |
$276,100±$29kLowest 17% below U.S. |
$390,700±$34k 17% above U.S. |
$422,000±$36kHighest 27% above U.S. |
| Westminster and Ashburnham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,109±$51Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,625±$804 15% above U.S. |
$1,807±$1k 28% above U.S. |
$1,843±$268Highest 30% above U.S. |
| Westminster and Ashburnham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,150Lowest 33% above U.S. |
$5,394 73% above U.S. |
$6,046Highest 94% above U.S. |
$4,973 59% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.7%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
60%±27.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ashburnham 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% |
6.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
96%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1954Lowest 26 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 16% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 32% above U.S. |
32 min 21% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 13.3%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.5%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16%±7.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.5%±4.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ashburnham 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 | — | #178 of 282 in MA | #112 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Gardner | Unity School District | Ashburnham-Westminster | Ashburnham-Westminster |
| High school in town | Gardner High | None in town | 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 | 4 photos → | 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.