Compare towns
Gardner vs Webster vs Windham 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 affordable homes ($302k median).
Webster has the youngest population (median age 39.9).
Windham has the highest household income ($190k).
Westminster has the shortest commute (27 min average).
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 | Webster | Windham | Westminster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 21,148Highest |
17,748 |
16,038 |
8,374Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±2.3 12% above U.S. |
39.9±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
41.1±2.9 6% above U.S. |
48.3±4.6Highest 24% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
27.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Windham 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% |
19.6%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26%±5.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
25.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
62.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.8%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Webster 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. |
$72,895±$6k 10% below U.S. |
$189,583±$19kHighest 135% above U.S. |
$106,331±$22k 32% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $301,600±$20kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$361,500±$12k 9% above U.S. |
$723,300±$50kHighest 117% above U.S. |
$422,000±$36k 27% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,109±$51Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,228±$81 13% below U.S. |
$3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
$1,843±$268 30% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,150 33% above U.S. |
$3,999Lowest 28% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,973 59% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.7%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
45.7%±6.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.2%±50.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
60%±27.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Westminster and Windham 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% |
12.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1954Lowest 26 yrs older than U.S. |
1962 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 16% above U.S. |
31 min 16% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 13.3%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
8%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.5%±4.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #273 of 282 in MA | #271 of 282 in MA | #13 of 120 in NH | #112 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Gardner | Webster | Windham School District | Ashburnham-Westminster |
| High school in town | Gardner High | Bartlett High School | Windham High School | Oakmont Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5 |
11.6Lowest |
12.8 |
13.6Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.