Compare towns
Westminster vs Ware vs Princeton 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).
Princeton has the most people working from home (29.5%).
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 | Princeton | Gardner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,374 |
10,048 |
3,529Lowest |
21,148Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2.4% MA: +7.4% |
+5.2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.3±4.6Highest 21% above MA |
43.1±4.7Lowest 8% above MA |
46.1±7 15% above MA |
43.7±2.3 9% above MA |
| Westminster and Princeton 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% |
19.1%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
22.2%±4.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.3%±2.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Princeton and Westminster 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% |
20.9%±3.6 MA: 17.9% |
19.6%±2.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Westminster and Princeton 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% |
24% MA: 47.3% |
59.4%Highest 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% |
1.9%±1.2 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±$22k about the MA average |
$67,475±$15kLowest 35% below MA |
$158,750±$46kHighest 53% above MA |
$67,518±$8k 35% below MA |
| Princeton 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±$36k 25% below MA |
$289,700±$28kLowest 48% below MA |
$520,500±$48kHighest 7% below MA |
$301,600±$20k 46% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,843±$268Highest 5% above MA |
$1,043±$109 41% below MA |
$897±$852Lowest 49% below MA |
$1,109±$51 37% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,973 17% below MA |
$4,237 29% below MA |
$6,633Highest 11% above MA |
$4,150Lowest 31% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60%±27.3 MA: 51.8% |
64.3%±16.2 MA: 51.8% |
69.8%±46.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
49.7%±8.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Princeton and Ware 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% |
4.2% MA: 10% |
13.7%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.6% MA: 62.5% |
72.3% MA: 62.5% |
94.3%Highest 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 |
1975 11 yrs newer 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 |
37 minHighest 25% above MA |
31 min 5% above MA |
| Work from home | 12.5%±4.2 MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
29.5%±6.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
13.3%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #112 of 282 in MA | #267 of 282 in MA | #59 of 282 in MA | #273 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ashburnham-Westminster | Ware | Wachusett | Gardner |
| High school in town | Oakmont Regional High School | Ware Junior/Senior High School | None in town | 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 | 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.