Compare towns
Westminster vs Putnam 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 the highest household income ($106k).
Putnam has the most affordable homes ($269k median).
Gardner has the most people working from home (13.3%).
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 | Putnam | Gardner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,374Lowest |
9,292 |
21,148Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +5.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.3±4.6Highest 24% above U.S. |
43.7±3Lowest 12% above U.S. |
43.7±2.3Lowest 12% above U.S. |
| Westminster and Putnam 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% |
18.6%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
18.3%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Westminster and Putnam 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% |
18.5%±3.1Lowest 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% |
20%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
23.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Gardner and Putnam 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. |
$70,561±$7k 13% below U.S. |
$67,518±$8kLowest 16% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $422,000±$36kHighest 27% above U.S. |
$269,200±$11kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$301,600±$20k 9% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,843±$268Highest 30% above U.S. |
$1,149±$44 19% below U.S. |
$1,109±$51Lowest 22% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,973Highest 59% above U.S. |
$3,860Lowest 24% above U.S. |
$4,150 33% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60%±27.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest 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% |
11.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
13.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
58.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1961 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1954Lowest 26 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 16% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.5%±4.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±2.8Lowest 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 | #128 of 149 in CT | #273 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ashburnham-Westminster | Putnam School District | Gardner |
| High school in town | Oakmont Regional High School | Putnam High School | Gardner High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.6Highest |
9.5Lowest |
13.5 |
| 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.