Compare towns
Westminster vs Athol 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%).
Athol has the most affordable homes ($268k median).
Gardner has the most renters (41.1% rent).
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 | Athol | Gardner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,374Lowest |
12,011 |
21,148Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+5.2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.3±4.6Highest 21% above MA |
41.3±1.9Lowest 3% above MA |
43.7±2.3 9% above MA |
| Westminster and Gardner 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% |
21.8%±3.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.3%±2.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Athol 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% |
19.3%±2.3Lowest 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%Highest MA: 47.3% |
20.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
23.8% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.6%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Gardner and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $106,331±$22kHighest about the MA average |
$69,316±$5k 33% below MA |
$67,518±$8kLowest 35% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $422,000±$36kHighest 25% below MA |
$268,100±$13kLowest 52% below MA |
$301,600±$20k 46% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,843±$268Highest 5% above MA |
$1,150±$182 35% below MA |
$1,109±$51Lowest 37% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,973Highest 17% below MA |
$3,403Lowest 43% below MA |
$4,150 31% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60%±27.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
57.5%±17.2 MA: 51.8% |
49.7%±8.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Westminster and Athol 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% |
16.3%Highest MA: 10% |
13.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
72.4% MA: 62.5% |
58.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
1953Lowest 11 yrs older than MA |
1954 10 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 7% below MA |
27 minLowest 8% below MA |
31 minHighest 5% above MA |
| Work from home | 12.5%±4.2 MA: 18.6% |
10.6%±3.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
13.3%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Gardner and Westminster 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 | #112 of 282 in MA | #256 of 282 in MA | #273 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ashburnham-Westminster | Athol-Royalston | Gardner |
| High school in town | Oakmont Regional High School | Athol High | Gardner High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.6Highest |
11.6Lowest |
13.5 |
| 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.