Compare towns
Ashburnham vs Easthampton vs Gardner vs Ashby
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ashburnham has the most kids (22.6% under 18).
Easthampton has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Gardner has the most affordable homes ($302k median).
Ashby has the oldest population (median age 50.5).
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 | Easthampton | Gardner | Ashby |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,415 |
16,086 |
21,148Highest |
3,211Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
— | +5.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.9% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.7±6.3Lowest about the MA average |
46±2.6 15% above MA |
43.7±2.3 9% above MA |
50.5±3Highest 26% above MA |
| Ashby and Easthampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.6%±6Highest MA: 19.4% |
15.5%±2.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
18.3%±2.3 MA: 19.4% |
17%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
| Ashburnham and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.1%±4.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
23.9%±3Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.6%±2.2 MA: 17.9% |
21.5%±4.3 MA: 17.9% |
| Easthampton and Ashby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44%Highest MA: 47.3% |
38% MA: 47.3% |
23.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
43.7% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
6.1%±1.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
3%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Easthampton 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 14% above MA |
$71,673±$7k 31% below MA |
$67,518±$8kLowest 35% below MA |
$115,598±$9k 11% above MA |
| Ashburnham and Ashby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $390,700±$34kHighest 30% below MA |
$371,500±$15k 34% below MA |
$301,600±$20kLowest 46% below MA |
$390,500±$30k 31% below MA |
| Ashburnham and Ashby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,807±$1kHighest about the MA average |
$1,292±$70 27% below MA |
$1,109±$51Lowest 37% below MA |
$1,200±$484 32% below MA |
| Ashburnham and Easthampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,046Highest about the MA average |
$4,932 18% below MA |
$4,150Lowest 31% below MA |
$6,034 about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
45.5%±10.7 MA: 51.8% |
49.7%±8.6 MA: 51.8% |
36.4%±53.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| 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% MA: 10% |
8% MA: 10% |
13.7%Highest MA: 10% |
2.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96%Highest MA: 62.5% |
58.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
58.9% MA: 62.5% |
95.5% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1966 2 yrs newer than MA |
1954Lowest 10 yrs older than MA |
1970 6 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 10% above MA |
22 minLowest 23% below MA |
31 min 5% above MA |
33 minHighest 13% above MA |
| Work from home | 16%±7.7 MA: 18.6% |
19%±3.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
13.3%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
17.8%±5.8 MA: 18.6% |
| Easthampton and Ashby 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 | #92 of 282 in MA | #273 of 282 in MA | #200 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ashburnham-Westminster | Easthampton | Gardner | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | None in town | Easthampton High | Gardner High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.8Lowest |
13.5Highest |
— |
| 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.