What stands out worked out from the figures below

Gardner has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.2%).

Westminster has the most people working from home (27%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Gardner	Westminster
People
Population	21,148Highest	2,999Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-5.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	43.7±2.3Lowest 12% above U.S.	53.5±3.7Highest 38% above U.S.
Kids under 18	18.3%±2.3Highest U.S.: 22%	18.2%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Gardner and Westminster 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%	27.6%±6.8Highest 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%	46.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.6%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4%	4.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Gardner and Westminster 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.	$71,491±$4kHighest 11% below U.S.
	Westminster and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$301,600±$20kHighest 9% below U.S.	$273,800±$35kLowest 18% below U.S.
	Gardner and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,109±$51Highest 22% below U.S.	$916±$126Lowest 35% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,150Highest 33% above U.S.	$4,063Lowest 30% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	49.7%±8.6Highest U.S.: 51.1%	49.2%±7.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Gardner 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%	8.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	58.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	88.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1954Lowest 26 yrs older than U.S.	1980Highest same as U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minHighest 16% above U.S.	24 minLowest 10% below U.S.
Work from home	13.3%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	27%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#273 of 282 in MA	#53 of 70 in VT
School district	Gardner	Bellows Falls Union High School District #27 · Westminster School District
High school in town	Gardner High	Bellows Falls Union High School
Students per teacherat that high school	13.5Highest	10.6Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.