Compare towns
Westminster vs Hampton vs Gardner vs Rochester
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 the shortest commute (27 min average).
Hampton has the most people working from home (17.7%).
Gardner has the most renters (41.1% rent).
Rochester has the most expensive homes ($599k 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 | Rochester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,374 |
1,647Lowest |
21,148Highest |
5,837 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +5.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.3±4.6 24% above U.S. |
51.5±5.3Highest 32% above U.S. |
43.7±2.3Lowest 12% above U.S. |
46.5±6 20% 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% |
19.7%±5.3 U.S.: 22% |
18.3%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.1%±4.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Westminster and Rochester 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% |
26.1%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.6%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.1%±4.2 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% |
29.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
23.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Gardner and Rochester 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 32% above U.S. |
$109,167±$19k 35% above U.S. |
$67,518±$8kLowest 16% below U.S. |
$120,273±$12kHighest 49% above U.S. |
| Rochester 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. |
$295,800±$27kLowest 11% below U.S. |
$301,600±$20k 9% below U.S. |
$599,100±$31kHighest 80% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,843±$268Highest 30% above U.S. |
$1,285±$288 9% below U.S. |
$1,109±$51Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,432±$743 about the U.S. average |
| Westminster and Rochester 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. |
$4,364 40% above U.S. |
$4,150Lowest 33% above U.S. |
$6,530Highest 109% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60%±27.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.5%±51.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
49.7%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
39.1%±10.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Westminster and Hampton 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% |
5.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
13.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
90%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
58.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1954Lowest 26 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
29 min 10% above U.S. |
31 min 16% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 38% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.5%±4.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±5.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.3%±3.7Lowest 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 | — | #273 of 282 in MA | #104 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ashburnham-Westminster | Hampton School District | Gardner | Old Colony Regional Vocational Technical · Rochester |
| High school in town | Oakmont Regional High School | None in town | Gardner High | Old Colony Regional Vocational Technical |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.6Highest |
— | 13.5 |
9.1Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.