What stands out worked out from the figures below

Andover has the most expensive homes ($856k median).

Gardner has the most affordable homes ($302k median).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Andover	Gardner
People
Population	36,652Highest	21,148Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+10.1%Highest MA: +7.4%	+5.2%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	42.9±1Lowest 7% above MA	43.7±2.3Highest 9% above MA
	Gardner and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	23.6%±1.8Highest MA: 19.4%	18.3%±2.3Lowest MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	16%±1.3Lowest MA: 17.9%	19.6%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	75.6%Highest MA: 47.3%	23.8%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	8.1%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9%	4.6%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$172,606±$16kHighest 66% above MA	$67,518±$8kLowest 35% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$855,600±$22kHighest 52% above MA	$301,600±$20kLowest 46% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,201±$129Highest 25% above MA	$1,109±$51Lowest 37% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA	$4,150Lowest 31% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	39.7%±7.7Lowest MA: 51.8%	49.7%±8.6Highest MA: 51.8%
	Gardner and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	2.9%Lowest MA: 10%	13.7%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	79.9%Highest MA: 62.5%	58.9%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1973Highest 9 yrs newer than MA	1954Lowest 10 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minLowest about the MA average	31 minHighest 5% above MA
Work from home	30.4%±2.1Highest MA: 18.6%	13.3%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#68 of 282 in MA	#273 of 282 in MA
School district	Andover · Greater Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical	Gardner
High school in town	Gr Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical	Gardner High
Students per teacherat that high school	12.8Lowest	13.5Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.