Compare towns

Ashburnham vs Gardner vs Maynard

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 homeowners (96%).
Gardner has the most affordable homes ($302k median).
Maynard has the most people working from home (22.9%).

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.

MeasureAshburnhamGardnerMaynard
People
Population
6,415Lowest
21,148Highest
10,712
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+3.8%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
+5.2%
MA: +7.4%
+6.3%Highest
MA: +7.4%
Median age
40.7±6.3Lowest
about the MA average
43.7±2.3
9% above MA
45.3±4.3Highest
13% above MA
Maynard and Gardner 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%
18.3%±2.3
MA: 19.4%
16.9%±4.3Lowest
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%
19.6%±2.2Highest
MA: 17.9%
18.2%±3.3
MA: 17.9%
Gardner and Maynard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
44%
MA: 47.3%
23.8%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
64.2%Highest
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.6%±2.2Highest
MA: 7.9%
4.6%±1.3
MA: 7.9%
3.5%±1.5Lowest
MA: 7.9%
Ashburnham and Gardner 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
14% above MA
$67,518±$8kLowest
35% below MA
$124,067±$16kHighest
19% above MA
Maynard 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
30% below MA
$301,600±$20kLowest
46% below MA
$527,400±$31kHighest
6% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,807±$1kHighest
about the MA average
$1,109±$51Lowest
37% below MA
$1,800±$148
about the MA average
Ashburnham and Maynard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,046
about the MA average
$4,150Lowest
31% below MA
$8,266Highest
38% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
100%±100Highest
MA: 51.8%
49.7%±8.6
MA: 51.8%
44.9%±9.6Lowest
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%Lowest
MA: 10%
13.7%Highest
MA: 10%
8.3%
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
96%Highest
MA: 62.5%
58.9%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
75%
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1981Highest
17 yrs newer than MA
1954Lowest
10 yrs older than MA
1963
1 yr older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
32 minHighest
10% above MA
31 minLowest
5% above MA
32 min
9% above MA
Work from home
16%±7.7
MA: 18.6%
13.3%±3.6Lowest
MA: 18.6%
22.9%±7.7Highest
MA: 18.6%
Maynard 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 #166 of 282 in MA
School district Ashburnham-Westminster Gardner Maynard
High school in town None in town Gardner High Maynard High
Students per teacherat that high school —
13.5Highest
9.7Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.