Compare towns
Westminster vs Ware 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%).
Ware has the most affordable homes ($290k 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 | Ware | Gardner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,374Lowest |
10,048 |
21,148Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+5.2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.3±4.6Highest 21% above MA |
43.1±4.7Lowest 8% 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%±4.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.1%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
18.3%±2.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Westminster and Ware 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% |
20.6%±3.4 MA: 17.9% |
19.6%±2.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Westminster and Ware 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% |
24% MA: 47.3% |
23.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Gardner and Ware 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 about the MA average |
$67,475±$15kLowest 35% below MA |
$67,518±$8k 35% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $422,000±$36kHighest 25% below MA |
$289,700±$28kLowest 48% below MA |
$301,600±$20k 46% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,843±$268Highest 5% above MA |
$1,043±$109Lowest 41% below MA |
$1,109±$51 37% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,973Highest 17% below MA |
$4,237 29% below MA |
$4,150Lowest 31% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60%±27.3 MA: 51.8% |
64.3%±16.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
49.7%±8.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Ware 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% |
11.8% MA: 10% |
13.7%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
72.3% MA: 62.5% |
58.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
1960 4 yrs older than MA |
1954Lowest 10 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 7% below MA |
28 min about the MA average |
31 minHighest 5% above MA |
| Work from home | 12.5%±4.2 MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8Lowest 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 | #267 of 282 in MA | #273 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ashburnham-Westminster | Ware | Gardner |
| High school in town | Oakmont Regional High School | Ware Junior/Senior High School | Gardner High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.6Highest |
11.1Lowest |
13.5 |
| 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.