Compare towns
Ashburnham vs Gardner vs Hampton vs Berkley
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 kids (22.6% under 18).
Gardner has the most renters (41.1% rent).
Hampton has the oldest population (median age 51.5).
Berkley has the most expensive homes ($511k 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 | Gardner | Hampton | Berkley |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,415 |
21,148Highest |
1,647Lowest |
6,829 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +5.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.7±6.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
43.7±2.3 12% above U.S. |
51.5±5.3Highest 32% above U.S. |
43.4±4.1 12% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 22.6%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.3%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.7%±5.3 U.S.: 22% |
21.2%±5.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Ashburnham and Berkley 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% |
19.6%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.1%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.2%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
23.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
29.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
37.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±2.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Ashburnham and Berkley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $118,809±$11k 47% above U.S. |
$67,518±$8kLowest 16% below U.S. |
$109,167±$19k 35% above U.S. |
$144,205±$49kHighest 79% above U.S. |
| Berkley and Ashburnham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $390,700±$34k 17% above U.S. |
$301,600±$20k 9% below U.S. |
$295,800±$27kLowest 11% below U.S. |
$511,200±$45kHighest 54% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,807±$1kHighest 28% above U.S. |
$1,109±$51Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,285±$288 9% below U.S. |
— |
| Ashburnham and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,046Highest 94% above U.S. |
$4,150Lowest 33% above U.S. |
$4,364 40% above U.S. |
$6,018 93% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
49.7%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.5%±51.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ashburnham and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
13.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96% U.S.: 65.2% |
58.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1954Lowest 26 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 21% above U.S. |
31 min 16% above U.S. |
29 min 10% above U.S. |
27 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16%±7.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±5.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hampton 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 | #273 of 282 in MA | — | #155 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ashburnham-Westminster | Gardner | Hampton School District | Berkley |
| High school in town | None in town | Gardner High | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 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.