Compare towns
Gardner vs Ware vs Westminster vs Spencer
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ware has the most affordable homes ($253k median).
Westminster has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.9%).
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 | Ware | Westminster | Spencer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 21,148Highest |
6,369Lowest |
8,374 |
12,008 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.2% MA: +7.4% |
+1.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+12.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±2.3 9% above MA |
39.8±6Lowest about the MA average |
48.3±4.6 21% above MA |
48.9±6.8Highest 22% above MA |
| 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 MA: 19.4% |
23.3%±4.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.3%±4.4 MA: 19.4% |
16.4%±3.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Ware 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 MA: 17.9% |
17.4%±3.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
26%±5.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
26%±4.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 23.8% MA: 47.3% |
15.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
45.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
29.1% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.9 MA: 7.9% |
1.8%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.2%±2.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Spencer 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±$8k 35% below MA |
$45,158±$11kLowest 57% below MA |
$106,331±$22kHighest about the MA average |
$80,533±$11k 23% below MA |
| Westminster and Spencer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $301,600±$20k 46% below MA |
$253,400±$31kLowest 55% below MA |
$422,000±$36kHighest 25% below MA |
$382,000±$22k 32% below MA |
| Westminster and Spencer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,109±$51 37% below MA |
$1,039±$104Lowest 41% below MA |
$1,843±$268Highest 5% above MA |
$1,078±$161 39% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,150 31% below MA |
$3,408Lowest 43% below MA |
$4,973Highest 17% below MA |
$4,387 27% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.7%±8.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
64.5%±17.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
60%±27.3 MA: 51.8% |
50.6%±10.3 MA: 51.8% |
| Ware and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 13.7% MA: 10% |
14.1%Highest MA: 10% |
2.3%Lowest MA: 10% |
11% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.9% MA: 62.5% |
57.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
87.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
63% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1954 10 yrs older than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 5% above MA |
27 minLowest 9% below MA |
27 min 7% below MA |
34 minHighest 18% above MA |
| Work from home | 13.3%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
16.6%±5Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.5%±4.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
15%±7.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Ware 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 | #267 of 282 in MA | #112 of 282 in MA | #261 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Gardner | — | Ashburnham-Westminster | Spencer-E Brookfield |
| High school in town | Gardner High | — | 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 |
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.