Compare towns
Gardner vs Westminster vs North Adams
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.2%).
Westminster has the most people working from home (27%).
North Adams has the most affordable homes ($196k median).
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 | Westminster | North Adams |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 21,148Highest |
2,999Lowest |
12,606 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±2.3Lowest 12% above U.S. |
53.5±3.7Highest 38% above U.S. |
44.1±3.5 13% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 18.3%±2.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
15.7%±2.9Lowest 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% |
21.6%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Westminster and North Adams 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% |
28.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
9.8%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $67,518±$8k 16% below U.S. |
$71,491±$4kHighest 11% below U.S. |
$47,500±$7kLowest 41% 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±$35k 18% below U.S. |
$195,900±$14kLowest 41% 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±$126 35% below U.S. |
$793±$113Lowest 44% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,150Highest 33% above U.S. |
$4,063 30% above U.S. |
$3,078Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.7%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
49.2%±7.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
63.7%±11Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| North Adams and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 13.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
18.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
88.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
51%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1954 26 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 16% above U.S. |
24 min 10% below U.S. |
17 minLowest 34% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.3%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
27%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.2%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #273 of 282 in MA | #53 of 70 in VT | #268 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Gardner | Bellows Falls Union High School District #27 · Westminster School District | North Adams · Northern Berkshire Regional Vocational Technical |
| High school in town | Gardner High | Bellows Falls Union High School | Charles McCann Vocational Technical |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
10.6Lowest |
10.6Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.