Compare towns
Gardner vs Warren 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).
Warren has the youngest population (median age 38.7).
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 | Warren | Westminster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 21,148Highest |
5,009Lowest |
8,374 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.2% MA: +7.4% |
-3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+12.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±2.3 9% above MA |
38.7±7.3Lowest 3% below MA |
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% |
20.8%±8 MA: 19.4% |
21.3%±4.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Westminster and Warren 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% |
14.6%±4.5Lowest 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% MA: 47.3% |
23.2%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
45.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±2.1 MA: 7.9% |
1.8%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Gardner and Warren 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 |
$66,082±$6kLowest 36% below MA |
$106,331±$22kHighest about the MA average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $301,600±$20kLowest 46% below MA |
$333,700±$35k 41% below MA |
$422,000±$36kHighest 25% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,109±$51 37% below MA |
$890±$174Lowest 49% below MA |
$1,843±$268Highest 5% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,150Lowest 31% below MA |
$4,530 24% below MA |
$4,973Highest 17% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.7%±8.6 MA: 51.8% |
29.7%±18.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
60%±27.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Westminster and Gardner 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% |
9% MA: 10% |
2.3%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
64.5% MA: 62.5% |
87.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1954Lowest 10 yrs older than MA |
1975 11 yrs newer than MA |
1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 5% above MA |
33 minHighest 13% above MA |
27 minLowest 7% below MA |
| Work from home | 13.3%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
8.5%±5.4Lowest 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 | #165 of 282 in MA | #112 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Gardner | Quaboag Regional | Ashburnham-Westminster |
| High school in town | Gardner High | Quaboag Regional High | Oakmont Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5 |
10.0Lowest |
13.6Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.