Compare towns
Ashburnham vs Thompson vs Gardner
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 expensive homes ($391k median).
Thompson has the oldest population (median age 54.1).
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 | Thompson | Gardner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,415Lowest |
9,337 |
21,148Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +5.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.7±6.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S. |
43.7±2.3 12% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 22.6%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.3%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Ashburnham and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.1%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.6%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Thompson 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
21.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
23.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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±$11kHighest 47% above U.S. |
$93,629±$18k 16% above U.S. |
$67,518±$8kLowest 16% below U.S. |
| Ashburnham and Thompson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $390,700±$34kHighest 17% above U.S. |
$291,900±$24kLowest 12% below U.S. |
$301,600±$20k 9% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,807±$1kHighest 28% above U.S. |
$1,012±$344Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,109±$51 22% below U.S. |
| 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 94% above U.S. |
$3,822Lowest 23% above U.S. |
$4,150 33% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
54%±18.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
49.7%±8.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ashburnham and Thompson 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% |
5.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
13.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
58.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1954Lowest 26 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 21% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
31 minLowest 16% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16%±7.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #130 of 149 in CT | #273 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ashburnham-Westminster | Thompson School District | Gardner |
| High school in town | None in town | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | Gardner High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 7.9Lowest |
13.5Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.