Compare towns
Ashburnham vs Lancaster vs Sutton 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 most kids (22.6% under 18).
Lancaster has the most people working from home (33.6%).
Sutton has the highest household income ($147k).
Gardner has the most renters (41.1% rent).
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 | Lancaster | Sutton | Gardner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,415Lowest |
8,606 |
9,452 |
21,148Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.8% MA: +7.4% |
+4.4% MA: +7.4% |
+5.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.7±6.3Lowest about the MA average |
43.1±4.9 8% above MA |
44.3±2.5Highest 11% above MA |
43.7±2.3 9% above MA |
| Sutton 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% |
19.2%±4 MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
18.3%±2.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Ashburnham and Sutton 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% |
19.9%±4.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.2 MA: 17.9% |
19.6%±2.2 MA: 17.9% |
| Lancaster 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% |
50.3% MA: 47.3% |
52.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
23.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±2.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
3%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.3 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 |
$134,833±$27k 30% above MA |
$147,125±$25kHighest 42% above MA |
$67,518±$8kLowest 35% below MA |
| Sutton and Lancaster 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 |
$519,100±$60k 8% below MA |
$523,100±$47kHighest 7% below MA |
$301,600±$20kLowest 46% below MA |
| Sutton and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,807±$1k about the MA average |
$2,338±$539Highest 33% above MA |
$1,190±$401 32% below MA |
$1,109±$51Lowest 37% below MA |
| Lancaster 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 |
$7,235Highest 21% above MA |
$6,763 13% above MA |
$4,150Lowest 31% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
68.3%±36.7 MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
49.7%±8.6 MA: 51.8% |
| Ashburnham and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.8% MA: 10% |
1.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.8% MA: 10% |
13.7%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96%Highest MA: 62.5% |
85.1% MA: 62.5% |
89.7% MA: 62.5% |
58.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1954Lowest 10 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 10% above MA |
32 min 9% above MA |
30 minLowest about the MA average |
31 min 5% above MA |
| Work from home | 16%±7.7 MA: 18.6% |
33.6%±9.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1 MA: 18.6% |
13.3%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Lancaster and Sutton 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 | #145 of 282 in MA | #105 of 282 in MA | #273 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ashburnham-Westminster | Nashoba | Sutton | Gardner |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Sutton High School | Gardner High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.6Lowest |
13.5Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.