Compare towns
Westminster vs Gardner vs Merrimac
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%).
Gardner has the most affordable homes ($302k median).
Merrimac has the most expensive homes ($553k 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 | Gardner | Merrimac |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,374 |
21,148Highest |
6,748Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+5.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.1% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.3±4.6 21% above MA |
43.7±2.3Lowest 9% above MA |
49.4±6.8Highest 24% above MA |
| Merrimac and Westminster 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% |
18.3%±2.3 MA: 19.4% |
16.5%±6.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Westminster and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26%±5.7 MA: 17.9% |
19.6%±2.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
26.7%±5.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Merrimac and Westminster 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% |
23.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
41% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.1%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
| Gardner and Merrimac 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 |
$67,518±$8kLowest 35% below MA |
$123,054±$16kHighest 18% above MA |
| Merrimac and Westminster 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 |
$301,600±$20kLowest 46% below MA |
$553,400±$38kHighest about the MA average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,843±$268Highest 5% above MA |
$1,109±$51Lowest 37% below MA |
$1,352±$325 23% below MA |
| Westminster and Merrimac 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 |
$4,150Lowest 31% below MA |
$7,399Highest 23% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60%±27.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
49.7%±8.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
59.3%±29.1 MA: 51.8% |
| Westminster and Merrimac 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% |
13.7%Highest MA: 10% |
9.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
58.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
81.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 13 yrs newer than MA |
1954Lowest 10 yrs older than MA |
1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 7% below MA |
31 min 5% above MA |
32 minHighest 10% above MA |
| Work from home | 12.5%±4.2 MA: 18.6% |
13.3%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
8.5%±3.4Lowest 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 | #273 of 282 in MA | #188 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ashburnham-Westminster | Gardner | Pentucket |
| High school in town | Oakmont Regional High School | Gardner High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.6Highest |
13.5Lowest |
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| 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.