Compare towns
Gardner vs Windham vs Westminster vs Ashburnham
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 renters (41.1% rent).
Windham has the most people working from home (19%).
Westminster has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.9%).
Ashburnham has the highest household income ($119k).
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 | Windham | Westminster | Ashburnham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 21,148Highest |
19,188 |
8,374 |
6,415Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±2.3 12% above U.S. |
41.8±1.8 7% above U.S. |
48.3±4.6Highest 24% above U.S. |
40.7±6.3Lowest 5% 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% |
19.2%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
22.6%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Ashburnham 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% |
15.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26%±5.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.1%±4.5 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% |
44.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
45.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.8%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Ashburnham 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. |
$107,934±$14k 34% above U.S. |
$106,331±$22k 32% above U.S. |
$118,809±$11kHighest 47% above U.S. |
| Ashburnham and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $301,600±$20kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$388,900±$22k 17% above U.S. |
$422,000±$36kHighest 27% above U.S. |
$390,700±$34k 17% above U.S. |
| Westminster and Ashburnham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,109±$51Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,232±$332 13% below U.S. |
$1,843±$268Highest 30% above U.S. |
$1,807±$1k 28% above U.S. |
| Westminster and Ashburnham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,150 33% above U.S. |
$3,938Lowest 26% above U.S. |
$4,973 59% above U.S. |
$6,046Highest 94% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.7%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
32.7%±14.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
60%±27.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ashburnham 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% |
3.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
96%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1954Lowest 26 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 16% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
27 min about the U.S. average |
32 minHighest 21% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.3%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.5%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16%±7.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Windham and Ashburnham 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 | #95 of 133 in ME | #112 of 282 in MA | #178 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Gardner | RSU 14 | Ashburnham-Westminster | Ashburnham-Westminster |
| High school in town | Gardner High | Windham High School | Oakmont Regional High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5 |
12.1Lowest |
13.6Highest |
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| 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.