Compare towns
Ashburnham vs Hardwick vs Gardner
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).
Hardwick has the oldest population (median age 45.3).
Gardner has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.2%).
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 | Hardwick | Gardner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,415 |
2,684Lowest |
21,148Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.8% MA: +7.4% |
-10.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+5.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.7±6.3Lowest about the MA average |
45.3±9.8Highest 13% above MA |
43.7±2.3 9% above MA |
| Hardwick 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% |
20.5%±5.6 MA: 19.4% |
18.3%±2.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Ashburnham and Hardwick 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% |
22.7%±5Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.6%±2.2 MA: 17.9% |
| Hardwick 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%Highest MA: 47.3% |
30.9% MA: 47.3% |
23.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
6.2%±4.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Hardwick and Ashburnham 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 |
$75,000±$22k 28% below MA |
$67,518±$8kLowest 35% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $390,700±$34kHighest 30% below MA |
$346,700±$67k 38% below MA |
$301,600±$20kLowest 46% below MA |
| Ashburnham and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,807±$1kHighest about the MA average |
$1,108±$119Lowest 37% below MA |
$1,109±$51 37% 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 |
$4,400 27% below MA |
$4,150Lowest 31% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
59%±13.8 MA: 51.8% |
49.7%±8.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Ashburnham and Hardwick 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% |
11% MA: 10% |
13.7%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96%Highest MA: 62.5% |
68.2% MA: 62.5% |
58.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
1954Lowest 10 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 10% above MA |
31 min 7% above MA |
31 minLowest 5% above MA |
| Work from home | 16%±7.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
8.7%±4.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
13.3%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
| Ashburnham and Gardner 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 | #163 of 282 in MA | #273 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ashburnham-Westminster | Quabbin | Gardner |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Gardner High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 13.5 |
| 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.