Compare towns
Ashburnham vs Everett vs Ashby vs Gardner
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).
Everett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+17.8%).
Ashby has the oldest population (median age 50.5).
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 | Everett | Ashby | Gardner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,415 |
50,045Highest |
3,211Lowest |
21,148 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+17.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.9% MA: +7.4% |
+5.2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.7±6.3 about the MA average |
35.2±1.5Lowest 12% below MA |
50.5±3Highest 26% above MA |
43.7±2.3 9% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 22.6%±6Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.8%±2.1 MA: 19.4% |
17%±3.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
18.3%±2.3 MA: 19.4% |
| Ashburnham and Everett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.1%±4.5 MA: 17.9% |
11.3%±1.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.5%±4.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.6%±2.2 MA: 17.9% |
| Ashby and Gardner 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% |
24.9% MA: 47.3% |
43.7% MA: 47.3% |
23.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
6.3%±0.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
3%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
| Everett 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 |
$85,218±$7k 18% below MA |
$115,598±$9k 11% above MA |
$67,518±$8kLowest 35% below 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±$34k 30% below MA |
$610,000±$23kHighest 9% above MA |
$390,500±$30k 31% below MA |
$301,600±$20kLowest 46% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,807±$1k about the MA average |
$2,076±$69Highest 18% above MA |
$1,200±$484 32% below MA |
$1,109±$51Lowest 37% below MA |
| Everett and Ashburnham 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 |
$4,880 19% below MA |
$6,034 about the MA average |
$4,150Lowest 31% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±5.8 MA: 51.8% |
36.4%±53.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
49.7%±8.6 MA: 51.8% |
| Ashburnham and Everett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.8% MA: 10% |
14.7%Highest MA: 10% |
2.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
13.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96%Highest MA: 62.5% |
37.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
95.5% MA: 62.5% |
58.9% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1970 6 yrs newer than MA |
1954 10 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 10% above MA |
35 minHighest 20% above MA |
33 min 13% above MA |
31 minLowest 5% above MA |
| Work from home | 16%±7.7 MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
17.8%±5.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
13.3%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
| Ashby 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 | #264 of 282 in MA | #200 of 282 in MA | #273 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ashburnham-Westminster | Everett | North Middlesex | Gardner |
| High school in town | None in town | Everett High | None in town | Gardner High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1Lowest |
— | 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.