Compare towns
Westminster vs Mendon vs Gardner vs Ashburnham
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%).
Mendon has the most expensive homes ($616k median).
Gardner has the most renters (41.1% rent).
Ashburnham has the most homeowners (96%).
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 | Mendon | Gardner | Ashburnham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,374 |
6,325Lowest |
21,148Highest |
6,415 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6.7% MA: +7.4% |
+5.2% MA: +7.4% |
+3.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.3±4.6Highest 21% above MA |
44.1±4.4 10% above MA |
43.7±2.3 9% above MA |
40.7±6.3Lowest about the MA average |
| Westminster and Mendon 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% |
22.8%±6.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.3%±2.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.6%±6 MA: 19.4% |
| Mendon and Ashburnham 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% |
14.7%±3.4Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.6%±2.2 MA: 17.9% |
18.1%±4.5 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% MA: 47.3% |
46.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
23.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
44% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.8%±2.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
| Mendon and Ashburnham 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 |
$132,256±$33kHighest 27% above MA |
$67,518±$8kLowest 35% below MA |
$118,809±$11k 14% above MA |
| Mendon and Ashburnham 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 |
$616,000±$37kHighest 10% above MA |
$301,600±$20kLowest 46% below MA |
$390,700±$34k 30% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,843±$268Highest 5% above MA |
$1,840±$196 4% above MA |
$1,109±$51Lowest 37% below MA |
$1,807±$1k about the MA average |
| Westminster and Mendon 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 |
$7,213Highest 20% above MA |
$4,150Lowest 31% below MA |
$6,046 about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60%±27.3 MA: 51.8% |
78.7%±26 MA: 51.8% |
49.7%±8.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Ashburnham and Mendon 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% |
7.1% MA: 10% |
13.7%Highest MA: 10% |
6.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.6% MA: 62.5% |
86.9% MA: 62.5% |
58.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
96%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 13 yrs newer than MA |
1985Highest 21 yrs newer than MA |
1954Lowest 10 yrs older than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 7% below MA |
30 min 4% above MA |
31 min 5% above MA |
32 minHighest 10% above MA |
| Work from home | 12.5%±4.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
15.1%±5.7 MA: 18.6% |
13.3%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
16%±7.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Ashburnham and Mendon 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 | #210 of 282 in MA | #273 of 282 in MA | #178 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ashburnham-Westminster | Mendon-Upton | Gardner | Ashburnham-Westminster |
| High school in town | Oakmont Regional High School | None in town | Gardner High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.6Highest |
— | 13.5Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.