Compare towns
Ashburnham vs Gardner vs Ware
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 highest household income ($119k).
Gardner has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.2%).
Ware has the most affordable homes ($253k 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 | Ware |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,415 |
21,148Highest |
6,369Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.8% MA: +7.4% |
+5.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+1.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.7±6.3 about the MA average |
43.7±2.3Highest 9% above MA |
39.8±6Lowest about the MA average |
| Gardner and Ashburnham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.6%±6 MA: 19.4% |
18.3%±2.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.3%±4.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Ware and Ashburnham 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% |
19.6%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.4%±3.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Gardner and Ashburnham 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% |
23.8% MA: 47.3% |
15.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±2.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.9Lowest 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±$11kHighest 14% above MA |
$67,518±$8k 35% below MA |
$45,158±$11kLowest 57% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $390,700±$34kHighest 30% below MA |
$301,600±$20k 46% below MA |
$253,400±$31kLowest 55% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,807±$1kHighest about the MA average |
$1,109±$51 37% below MA |
$1,039±$104Lowest 41% below MA |
| Ashburnham and Gardner 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 |
$4,150 31% below MA |
$3,408Lowest 43% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
49.7%±8.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
64.5%±17.3 MA: 51.8% |
| Ashburnham and Ware 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% MA: 10% |
14.1%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96%Highest MA: 62.5% |
58.9% MA: 62.5% |
57.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1954 10 yrs older than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 10% above MA |
31 min 5% above MA |
27 minLowest 9% below MA |
| Work from home | 16%±7.7 MA: 18.6% |
13.3%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
16.6%±5Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Ware 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 | #267 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ashburnham-Westminster | Gardner | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Gardner High | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.5 |
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| 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.