Compare towns
Ashburnham vs Gardner vs Stoneham
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).
Stoneham has the most expensive homes ($672k 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 | Stoneham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,415Lowest |
21,148 |
23,355Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+5.2% MA: +7.4% |
+8.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.7±6.3Lowest about the MA average |
43.7±2.3Highest 9% above MA |
42.2±2.2 6% above MA |
| Gardner and Stoneham 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%±2.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.8%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
| Ashburnham and Stoneham 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%±2.2 MA: 17.9% |
20.4%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Stoneham 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% MA: 47.3% |
23.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
55.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±2.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.7%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
| Ashburnham and Stoneham 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 |
$67,518±$8kLowest 35% below MA |
$113,964±$10k 10% above MA |
| Ashburnham and Stoneham 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 |
$671,900±$26kHighest 20% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,807±$1k about the MA average |
$1,109±$51Lowest 37% below MA |
$2,035±$142Highest 15% above MA |
| Stoneham and Ashburnham 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 |
$6,523Highest 9% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
49.7%±8.6 MA: 51.8% |
41.9%±8.2Lowest 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% |
13.7%Highest MA: 10% |
5.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96%Highest MA: 62.5% |
58.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
71% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1954Lowest 10 yrs older than MA |
1964 same as MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 10% above MA |
31 min 5% above MA |
28 minLowest 4% below MA |
| Work from home | 16%±7.7 MA: 18.6% |
13.3%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
24.6%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Stoneham 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 | #117 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ashburnham-Westminster | Gardner | Stoneham |
| High school in town | None in town | Gardner High | Stoneham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.5Highest |
10.7Lowest |
| 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.