Compare towns
Westminster vs Acton vs Gardner
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Westminster has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.9%).
Acton has the most people working from home (35.9%).
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 | Westminster | Acton | Gardner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,374Lowest |
24,155Highest |
21,148 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+9.6% MA: +7.4% |
+5.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.3±4.6Highest 21% above MA |
44.5±0.8 11% above MA |
43.7±2.3Lowest 9% above MA |
| Westminster and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.3%±4.4 MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.3%±2.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Acton and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26%±5.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.6%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.6%±2.2 MA: 17.9% |
| 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+ | 45.9% MA: 47.3% |
79.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
23.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±1.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
| Acton and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $106,331±$22k about the MA average |
$158,230±$14kHighest 52% above MA |
$67,518±$8kLowest 35% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $422,000±$36k 25% below MA |
$807,300±$20kHighest 44% above MA |
$301,600±$20kLowest 46% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,843±$268 5% above MA |
$1,986±$155Highest 13% above MA |
$1,109±$51Lowest 37% below MA |
| Acton and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,973 17% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$4,150Lowest 31% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60%±27.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
47.7%±11.3Lowest 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 | 2.3%Lowest MA: 10% |
3.4% MA: 10% |
13.7%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
74.9% MA: 62.5% |
58.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1954Lowest 10 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 7% below MA |
35 minHighest 19% above MA |
31 min 5% above MA |
| Work from home | 12.5%±4.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
35.9%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
13.3%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #112 of 282 in MA | #13 of 282 in MA | #273 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ashburnham-Westminster | Acton-Boxborough | Gardner |
| High school in town | Oakmont Regional High School | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | Gardner High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.6Highest |
13.5Lowest |
13.5Lowest |
| 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.