Compare towns
Westminster vs Plainfield vs Gardner vs Ashburnham
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 oldest population (median age 48.3).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Gardner has the most renters (41.1% rent).
Ashburnham has the most people working from home (16%).
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 | Plainfield | Gardner | Ashburnham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,374 |
15,141 |
21,148Highest |
6,415Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +5.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.3±4.6Highest 24% above U.S. |
37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
43.7±2.3 12% above U.S. |
40.7±6.3 5% 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% |
19.4%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
18.3%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.6%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Ashburnham 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% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.6%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.1%±4.5 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% |
15%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
23.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
44% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $106,331±$22k 32% above U.S. |
$76,993±$8k 5% below U.S. |
$67,518±$8kLowest 16% below U.S. |
$118,809±$11kHighest 47% above U.S. |
| Ashburnham 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±$36kHighest 27% above U.S. |
$272,100±$16kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$301,600±$20k 9% below U.S. |
$390,700±$34k 17% above U.S. |
| Westminster and Ashburnham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,843±$268Highest 30% above U.S. |
$1,204±$70 15% below U.S. |
$1,109±$51Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,807±$1k 28% above U.S. |
| Westminster and Ashburnham 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. |
$4,209 35% above U.S. |
$4,150Lowest 33% above U.S. |
$6,046Highest 94% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60%±27.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
39.8%±9.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
49.7%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ashburnham 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
13.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
58.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1954Lowest 26 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
31 min 16% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 21% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.5%±4.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
16%±7.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ashburnham 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 | #131 of 149 in CT | #273 of 282 in MA | #178 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ashburnham-Westminster | Plainfield School District | Gardner | Ashburnham-Westminster |
| High school in town | Oakmont Regional High School | Plainfield High School | Gardner High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.6Highest |
10.3Lowest |
13.5 |
— |
| 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.