Compare towns
Ashburnham vs Dover 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
Ashburnham has the most homeowners (96%).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
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.
| Measure | Ashburnham | Dover | Gardner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,415Lowest |
33,364Highest |
21,148 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.7±6.3 5% above U.S. |
36.9±1.9Lowest 5% below U.S. |
43.7±2.3Highest 12% above U.S. |
| Gardner and Ashburnham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.6%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.3%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Ashburnham and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.1%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.6%±2.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Gardner and Ashburnham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44% U.S.: 35.7% |
52%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
23.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dover and Ashburnham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $118,809±$11kHighest 47% above U.S. |
$94,829±$7k 17% above U.S. |
$67,518±$8kLowest 16% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $390,700±$34k 17% above U.S. |
$436,700±$20kHighest 31% above U.S. |
$301,600±$20kLowest 9% below U.S. |
| Dover and Ashburnham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,807±$1kHighest 28% above U.S. |
$1,607±$100 14% above U.S. |
$1,109±$51Lowest 22% below U.S. |
| Ashburnham and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,046 94% above U.S. |
$8,249Highest 164% above U.S. |
$4,150Lowest 33% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.6%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
49.7%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ashburnham and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
13.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
52.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
58.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1954Lowest 26 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 21% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 14% below U.S. |
31 min 16% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16%±7.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±2.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dover 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 | #178 of 282 in MA | #64 of 120 in NH | #273 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ashburnham-Westminster | Dover School District | Gardner |
| High school in town | None in town | Dover Senior High School | Gardner High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.7Lowest |
13.5Highest |
| 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.