Compare towns
Ashburnham vs Needham vs Gardner vs Ashby
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 youngest population (median age 40.7).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
Gardner has the most renters (41.1% rent).
Ashby has the oldest population (median age 50.5).
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 | Needham | Gardner | Ashby |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,415 |
32,459Highest |
21,148 |
3,211Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+5.2% MA: +7.4% |
+3.9% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.7±6.3Lowest about the MA average |
43.1±1.6 8% above MA |
43.7±2.3 9% above MA |
50.5±3Highest 26% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 22.6%±6 MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.3%±2.3 MA: 19.4% |
17%±3.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Needham 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% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.6%±2.2 MA: 17.9% |
21.5%±4.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Ashby 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% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
23.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
43.7% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±2.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
3%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Ashburnham and Needham 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 |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$67,518±$8kLowest 35% below MA |
$115,598±$9k 11% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $390,700±$34k 30% below MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$301,600±$20kLowest 46% below MA |
$390,500±$30k 31% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,807±$1k about the MA average |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$1,109±$51Lowest 37% below MA |
$1,200±$484 32% below MA |
| Needham 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$4,150Lowest 31% below MA |
$6,034 about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5 MA: 51.8% |
49.7%±8.6 MA: 51.8% |
36.4%±53.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Ashburnham and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.8% MA: 10% |
3.7% MA: 10% |
13.7%Highest MA: 10% |
2.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96%Highest MA: 62.5% |
83.1% MA: 62.5% |
58.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
95.5% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1965 1 yr newer than MA |
1954Lowest 10 yrs older than MA |
1970 6 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 10% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
31 min 5% above MA |
33 minHighest 13% above MA |
| Work from home | 16%±7.7 MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
13.3%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
17.8%±5.8 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #178 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | #273 of 282 in MA | #200 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ashburnham-Westminster | — | Gardner | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Gardner High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 13.5 |
— |
| 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.