Compare towns
Ashburnham vs Newfields vs Gardner vs Ashby
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ashburnham has the most kids (22.6% under 18).
Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).
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 | Newfields | Gardner | Ashby |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,415 |
2,023Lowest |
21,148Highest |
3,211 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.7±6.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
44.1±1.8 13% above U.S. |
43.7±2.3 12% above U.S. |
50.5±3Highest 30% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 22.6%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±1.6 U.S.: 22% |
18.3%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
17%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Ashburnham and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.1%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.6%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.5%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
68.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
23.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±7.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Newfields 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±$11k 47% above U.S. |
$197,885±$15kHighest 145% above U.S. |
$67,518±$8kLowest 16% below U.S. |
$115,598±$9k 43% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $390,700±$34k 17% above U.S. |
$646,400±$34kHighest 94% above U.S. |
$301,600±$20kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$390,500±$30k 17% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,807±$1k 28% above U.S. |
$1,875±$323Highest 33% above U.S. |
$1,109±$51Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,200±$484 15% below U.S. |
| Newfields and Ashburnham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,046 94% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,150Lowest 33% above U.S. |
$6,034 93% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.3%±40.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
49.7%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
36.4%±53.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
13.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
58.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1954Lowest 26 yrs older than U.S. |
1970 10 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 21% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
31 min 16% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16%±7.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
25.5%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.8%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Newfields and Ashby 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 | #200 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ashburnham-Westminster | Newfields School District | Gardner | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | None 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 | 6 photos → | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.