Compare towns
Ashburnham vs Gardner vs Hanson vs Ogunquit
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 youngest population (median age 40.7).
Gardner has the most renters (41.1% rent).
Hanson has the highest household income ($132k).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
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 | Hanson | Ogunquit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,415 |
21,148Highest |
10,660 |
1,379Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.7±6.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
43.7±2.3 12% above U.S. |
42.8±3 10% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 22.6%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.3%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
21.6%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Ashburnham and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.1%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.6%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44% U.S.: 35.7% |
23.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5%Highest 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% |
4.8%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Ashburnham and Hanson 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. |
$132,200±$10kHighest 64% above U.S. |
$114,259±$56k 42% above U.S. |
| Hanson 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±$20kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$533,900±$36k 60% above U.S. |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,807±$1k 28% above U.S. |
$1,109±$51Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,821±$860Highest 29% above U.S. |
— |
| Hanson and Ashburnham 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. |
$4,150Lowest 33% above U.S. |
$6,402Highest 105% above U.S. |
$4,473 43% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
49.7%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
69%±33.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ashburnham and Hanson 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% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
58.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1954Lowest 26 yrs older than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 21% above U.S. |
31 min 16% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 16%±7.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #178 of 282 in MA | #273 of 282 in MA | #149 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Ashburnham-Westminster | Gardner | Whitman-Hanson | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Gardner High | Whitman Hanson Regional | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.5Lowest |
14.7Highest |
— |
| 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.