Compare towns
Westminster vs Windsor Locks vs Ashburnham 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 oldest population (median age 48.3).
Windsor Locks has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Ashburnham has the highest household income ($119k).
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 | Windsor Locks | Ashburnham | Gardner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,374 |
12,579 |
6,415Lowest |
21,148Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +3.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.3±4.6Highest 24% above U.S. |
41.4±2.6 6% above U.S. |
40.7±6.3Lowest 5% above 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% |
18.6%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
22.6%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.3%±2.3Lowest 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% |
18.2%±2.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.1%±4.5Lowest 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% |
28.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
44% U.S.: 35.7% |
23.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Windsor Locks and Ashburnham 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 32% above U.S. |
$81,205±$13k about the U.S. average |
$118,809±$11kHighest 47% above U.S. |
$67,518±$8kLowest 16% below 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. |
$258,800±$14kLowest 22% below U.S. |
$390,700±$34k 17% above U.S. |
$301,600±$20k 9% below 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. |
$1,394±$187 about the U.S. average |
$1,807±$1k 28% above U.S. |
$1,109±$51Lowest 22% below 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. |
$3,688Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$6,046Highest 94% above U.S. |
$4,150 33% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60%±27.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
58.2%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
49.7%±8.6Lowest 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% |
10.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
13.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
77.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
96%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
58.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1961 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1954Lowest 26 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 21% above U.S. |
31 min 16% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.5%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16%±7.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Windsor Locks and Ashburnham 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 | #109 of 149 in CT | #178 of 282 in MA | #273 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ashburnham-Westminster | Windsor Locks School District | Ashburnham-Westminster | Gardner |
| High school in town | Oakmont Regional High School | Windsor Locks High School | None in town | Gardner High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.6Highest |
8.9Lowest |
— | 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.