Compare towns
Westminster vs Pawtucket 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%).
Pawtucket has the youngest population (median age 37.1).
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 | Pawtucket | Gardner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,374Lowest |
75,893Highest |
21,148 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.3±4.6Highest 24% above U.S. |
37.1±0.8Lowest 5% below U.S. |
43.7±2.3 12% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
22.4%±1.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.3%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Pawtucket and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26%±5.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.5%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.6%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
22.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
23.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Pawtucket 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±$22kHighest 32% above U.S. |
$68,310±$4k 15% below U.S. |
$67,518±$8kLowest 16% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $422,000±$36kHighest 27% above U.S. |
$325,500±$8k about the U.S. average |
$301,600±$20kLowest 9% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,843±$268Highest 30% above U.S. |
$1,208±$39 15% below U.S. |
$1,109±$51Lowest 22% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,973Highest 59% above U.S. |
$4,115Lowest 32% above U.S. |
$4,150 33% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60%±27.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.9%±4.4Lowest 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% |
13.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
13.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
50.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
58.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1947Lowest 33 yrs older than U.S. |
1954 26 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
26 minLowest 3% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 16% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.5%±4.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.2%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #35 of 38 in RI | #273 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ashburnham-Westminster | Blackstone Academy · Pawtucket | Gardner |
| High school in town | Oakmont Regional High School | William E. Tolman High | Gardner High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.6 |
14.6Highest |
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.