Compare towns
Ashburnham vs Sterling 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).
Sterling has the most expensive homes ($499k median).
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 | Sterling | Gardner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,415Lowest |
8,183 |
21,148Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.8% MA: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+5.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.7±6.3Lowest about the MA average |
51.5±1.8Highest 29% above MA |
43.7±2.3 9% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 22.6%±6Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±4.1 MA: 19.4% |
18.3%±2.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Ashburnham and Sterling 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% |
22.9%±4Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.6%±2.2 MA: 17.9% |
| Sterling 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% |
48.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
23.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±2.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.8%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Ashburnham and Sterling 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 |
$129,063±$27kHighest 24% above MA |
$67,518±$8kLowest 35% below MA |
| Sterling and Ashburnham 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 |
$498,800±$48kHighest 11% below MA |
$301,600±$20kLowest 46% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,807±$1kHighest about the MA average |
$1,699±$161 4% below MA |
$1,109±$51Lowest 37% below MA |
| Ashburnham and Sterling 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 |
$6,757Highest 13% above MA |
$4,150Lowest 31% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
46%±23.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
49.7%±8.6 MA: 51.8% |
| 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% MA: 10% |
6%Lowest MA: 10% |
13.7%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96%Highest MA: 62.5% |
86.3% MA: 62.5% |
58.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1980 16 yrs newer than MA |
1954Lowest 10 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 10% above MA |
34 minHighest 18% above MA |
31 minLowest 5% above MA |
| Work from home | 16%±7.7 MA: 18.6% |
18.3%±6.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
13.3%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Sterling 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 | #135 of 282 in MA | #273 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ashburnham-Westminster | Wachusett | 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 Our Story | 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.