Compare towns
Gardner vs Williamsburg vs Westminster vs Webster
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).
Williamsburg has the most people working from home (26.5%).
Westminster has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.9%).
Webster has the youngest population (median age 39.9).
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 | Williamsburg | Westminster | Webster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 21,148Highest |
2,694Lowest |
8,374 |
17,748 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.2% MA: +7.4% |
+0.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+12.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±2.3 9% above MA |
50±2.4Highest 25% above MA |
48.3±4.6 21% above MA |
39.9±2.9Lowest about the MA average |
| Williamsburg and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.3%±2.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±4 MA: 19.4% |
21.3%±4.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±2.9 MA: 19.4% |
| Westminster and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.6%±2.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
22.7%±3.5 MA: 17.9% |
26%±5.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.6%±2.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Westminster and Williamsburg 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 MA: 47.3% |
60.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
45.9% MA: 47.3% |
25.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
6.2%±2.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
1.8%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.8%±1.6 MA: 7.9% |
| Williamsburg and Webster 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 35% below MA |
$104,792±$21k about the MA average |
$106,331±$22kHighest about the MA average |
$72,895±$6k 30% below MA |
| Westminster and Williamsburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $301,600±$20kLowest 46% below MA |
$403,100±$37k 28% below MA |
$422,000±$36kHighest 25% below MA |
$361,500±$12k 36% below MA |
| Westminster and Williamsburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,109±$51Lowest 37% below MA |
$1,420±$228 19% below MA |
$1,843±$268Highest 5% above MA |
$1,228±$81 30% below MA |
| Westminster and Williamsburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,150 31% below MA |
$5,761Highest 4% below MA |
$4,973 17% below MA |
$3,999Lowest 33% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.7%±8.6 MA: 51.8% |
61%±28Highest MA: 51.8% |
60%±27.3 MA: 51.8% |
45.7%±6.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Williamsburg 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 MA: 10% |
2.3%Lowest MA: 10% |
2.3%Lowest MA: 10% |
12.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
82.2% MA: 62.5% |
87.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
59.8% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1954Lowest 10 yrs older than MA |
1955 9 yrs older than MA |
1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
1962 2 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 5% above MA |
25 minLowest 13% below MA |
27 min 7% below MA |
31 minHighest 5% above MA |
| Work from home | 13.3%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
26.5%±6.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.5%±4.2 MA: 18.6% |
8%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #273 of 282 in MA | — | #112 of 282 in MA | #271 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Gardner | Williamsburg | Ashburnham-Westminster | Webster |
| High school in town | Gardner High | None in town | Oakmont Regional High School | Bartlett High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5 |
— | 13.6Highest |
11.6Lowest |
| 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.