Compare towns
Wendell vs Gardner vs Westhampton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wendell has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9%).
Gardner has the most renters (41.1% rent).
Westhampton has the highest household income ($100k).
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 | Wendell | Gardner | Westhampton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 850Lowest |
21,148Highest |
1,552 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+5.2% MA: +7.4% |
+0.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.1±8.8 18% above MA |
43.7±2.3Lowest 9% above MA |
49.3±4.9Highest 23% above MA |
| Westhampton and Wendell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16%±3.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
18.3%±2.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
18%±4.1 MA: 19.4% |
| Gardner and Westhampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.7%±5.7 MA: 17.9% |
19.6%±2.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
25.4%±2.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Westhampton and Wendell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 51.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
23.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
47% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±2.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Wendell and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $65,288±$14kLowest 37% below MA |
$67,518±$8k 35% below MA |
$100,000±$7kHighest 4% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $290,300±$31kLowest 48% below MA |
$301,600±$20k 46% below MA |
$413,200±$24kHighest 26% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,239±$519 30% below MA |
$1,109±$51Lowest 37% below MA |
$1,304±$229Highest 26% below MA |
| Westhampton and Wendell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,519 25% below MA |
$4,150Lowest 31% below MA |
$6,476Highest 8% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.6%±40.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
49.7%±8.6 MA: 51.8% |
33.3%±53.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Wendell and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 21.3%Highest MA: 10% |
13.7% MA: 10% |
6.5%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7% MA: 62.5% |
58.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
91.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1954Lowest 10 yrs older than MA |
1969 5 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 13% above MA |
31 min 5% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 16.8%±7.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
13.3%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
14.1%±4 MA: 18.6% |
| Wendell and Westhampton 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 | — |
| School district | New Salem-Wendell | Gardner | Hampshire · Westhampton |
| High school in town | None in town | Gardner High | Hampshire Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.5Highest |
10.0Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.