Compare towns
Westminster vs Hanson 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%).
Hanson has the most expensive homes ($534k 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 | Hanson | Gardner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,374Lowest |
10,660 |
21,148Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+5.2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.3±4.6Highest 21% above MA |
42.8±3Lowest 7% 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% |
21.6%±3.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.3%±2.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Hanson 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% |
19.7%±3 MA: 17.9% |
19.6%±2.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Westminster and Hanson 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% |
42.6% MA: 47.3% |
23.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.8%±2.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
| Hanson and Gardner 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 |
$132,200±$10kHighest 27% above MA |
$67,518±$8kLowest 35% below MA |
| Hanson 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 |
$533,900±$36kHighest 5% below MA |
$301,600±$20kLowest 46% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,843±$268Highest 5% above MA |
$1,821±$860 3% above MA |
$1,109±$51Lowest 37% below MA |
| Westminster and Hanson 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 |
$6,402Highest 7% above MA |
$4,150Lowest 31% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60%±27.3 MA: 51.8% |
69%±33.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
49.7%±8.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Hanson and Westminster 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% |
2.7% MA: 10% |
13.7%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.6% MA: 62.5% |
89%Highest MA: 62.5% |
58.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
1972 8 yrs newer than MA |
1954Lowest 10 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 7% below MA |
34 minHighest 15% above MA |
31 min 5% above MA |
| Work from home | 12.5%±4.2 MA: 18.6% |
7.9%±2.5Lowest 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 | #149 of 282 in MA | #273 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ashburnham-Westminster | Whitman-Hanson | Gardner |
| High school in town | Oakmont Regional High School | Whitman Hanson Regional | Gardner High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.6 |
14.7Highest |
13.5Lowest |
| 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.