Compare towns
Westminster vs Ayer 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 the most homeowners (87.6%).
Ayer has the most people working from home (21.6%).
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 | Westminster | Ayer | Gardner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,374Lowest |
8,645 |
21,148Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.9% MA: +7.4% |
+14.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+5.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.3±4.6Highest 21% above MA |
39.2±2.8Lowest about the MA average |
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%±4.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.3%±3.9 MA: 19.4% |
18.3%±2.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Westminster and Ayer 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% |
14.5%±2.8Lowest 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% |
42.3% MA: 47.3% |
23.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Gardner and Ayer 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 |
$101,875±$15k about the MA average |
$67,518±$8kLowest 35% below MA |
| Westminster and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $422,000±$36k 25% below MA |
$463,800±$29kHighest 17% below MA |
$301,600±$20kLowest 46% below MA |
| Ayer and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,843±$268Highest 5% above MA |
$1,415±$180 20% below MA |
$1,109±$51Lowest 37% below MA |
| Westminster and Ayer 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 |
$5,057Highest 16% below MA |
$4,150Lowest 31% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60%±27.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
45.1%±14.2Lowest 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% |
10.7% MA: 10% |
13.7%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
69.2% MA: 62.5% |
58.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
1954Lowest 10 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 7% below MA |
33 minHighest 13% above MA |
31 min 5% above MA |
| Work from home | 12.5%±4.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±5.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
13.3%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
| Ayer 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 | #112 of 282 in MA | #113 of 282 in MA | #273 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ashburnham-Westminster | Ayer Shirley School District | Gardner |
| High school in town | Oakmont Regional High School | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | Gardner High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.6Highest |
11.5Lowest |
13.5 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 12 photos → | 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.