Compare towns
Westminster vs Hampton vs Gardner
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Westminster has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.9%).
Hampton has the most people working from home (20.5%).
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 | Hampton | Gardner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,374Lowest |
10,101 |
21,148Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.3±4.6 24% above U.S. |
51.2±1.7Highest 32% above U.S. |
43.7±2.3Lowest 12% above U.S. |
| Hampton 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 U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.3%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.9%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.6%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hampton 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
44.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
23.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Gardner and Hampton 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 32% above U.S. |
$97,163±$4k 20% above U.S. |
$67,518±$8kLowest 16% below U.S. |
| Westminster and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $422,000±$36k 27% above U.S. |
$545,300±$63kHighest 64% above U.S. |
$301,600±$20kLowest 9% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,843±$268Highest 30% above U.S. |
$1,654±$93 17% above U.S. |
$1,109±$51Lowest 22% below U.S. |
| Westminster and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,973 59% above U.S. |
$6,872Highest 120% above U.S. |
$4,150Lowest 33% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60%±27.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.9%±13.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
49.7%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
4% U.S.: 12.5% |
13.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
74.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
58.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1954Lowest 26 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
31 minHighest 16% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.5%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.5%±3.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hampton 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 | #31 of 120 in NH | #273 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ashburnham-Westminster | — | Gardner |
| High school in town | Oakmont Regional High School | — | Gardner High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.6Highest |
— | 13.5Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.