Compare towns
Webster vs Easthampton vs Westminster vs Gardner
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Webster has the youngest population (median age 39.9).
Easthampton has the most people working from home (19%).
Westminster has the most homeowners (87.6%).
Gardner has the most affordable homes ($302k 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 | Webster | Easthampton | Westminster | Gardner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,748 |
16,086 |
8,374Lowest |
21,148Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% MA: +7.4% |
— | +12.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+5.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.9±2.9Lowest about the MA average |
46±2.6 15% above MA |
48.3±4.6Highest 21% above MA |
43.7±2.3 9% above MA |
| Westminster and Easthampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±2.9 MA: 19.4% |
15.5%±2.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.3%±4.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.3%±2.3 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%±2.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
23.9%±3 MA: 17.9% |
26%±5.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.6%±2.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Westminster and Easthampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 25.3% MA: 47.3% |
38% MA: 47.3% |
45.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
23.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±1.6 MA: 7.9% |
6.1%±1.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
1.8%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
| Easthampton and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $72,895±$6k 30% below MA |
$71,673±$7k 31% below MA |
$106,331±$22kHighest about the MA average |
$67,518±$8kLowest 35% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $361,500±$12k 36% below MA |
$371,500±$15k 34% below MA |
$422,000±$36kHighest 25% below MA |
$301,600±$20kLowest 46% below MA |
| Westminster and Easthampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,228±$81 30% below MA |
$1,292±$70 27% below MA |
$1,843±$268Highest 5% above MA |
$1,109±$51Lowest 37% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,999Lowest 33% below MA |
$4,932 18% below MA |
$4,973Highest 17% below MA |
$4,150 31% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.7%±6.7 MA: 51.8% |
45.5%±10.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
60%±27.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
49.7%±8.6 MA: 51.8% |
| Westminster and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 12.7% MA: 10% |
8% MA: 10% |
2.3%Lowest MA: 10% |
13.7%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.8% MA: 62.5% |
58.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
87.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
58.9% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962 2 yrs older than MA |
1966 2 yrs newer than MA |
1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
1954Lowest 10 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 5% above MA |
22 minLowest 23% below MA |
27 min 7% below MA |
31 minHighest 5% above MA |
| Work from home | 8%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
19%±3.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.5%±4.2 MA: 18.6% |
13.3%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
| Easthampton and Gardner 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 | #271 of 282 in MA | #92 of 282 in MA | #112 of 282 in MA | #273 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Webster | Easthampton | Ashburnham-Westminster | Gardner |
| High school in town | Bartlett High School | Easthampton High | Oakmont Regional High School | Gardner High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6 |
9.8Lowest |
13.6Highest |
13.5 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.