Compare towns
Ashby vs Lunenburg vs Gardner
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ashby has the most homeowners (95.5%).
Lunenburg has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.8%).
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 | Ashby | Lunenburg | Gardner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,211Lowest |
11,902 |
21,148Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+16.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+5.2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.5±3Highest 26% above MA |
43.2±2.1Lowest 8% above MA |
43.7±2.3 9% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 17%±3.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.1%±3Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.3%±2.3 MA: 19.4% |
| Lunenburg and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.5%±4.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.9%±2.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.6%±2.2 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+ | 43.7% MA: 47.3% |
44%Highest MA: 47.3% |
23.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.2%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Gardner and Lunenburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $115,598±$9kHighest 11% above MA |
$112,828±$11k 9% above MA |
$67,518±$8kLowest 35% below MA |
| Ashby and Lunenburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $390,500±$30k 31% below MA |
$463,900±$24kHighest 17% below MA |
$301,600±$20kLowest 46% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,200±$484 32% below MA |
$1,974±$586Highest 12% above MA |
$1,109±$51Lowest 37% below MA |
| Lunenburg and Ashby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,034 about the MA average |
$6,401Highest 7% above MA |
$4,150Lowest 31% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.4%±53.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
45.8%±13.5 MA: 51.8% |
49.7%±8.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Gardner and Lunenburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
4.2% MA: 10% |
13.7%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
80.7% MA: 62.5% |
58.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 6 yrs newer than MA |
1972Highest 8 yrs newer than MA |
1954Lowest 10 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 13% above MA |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
31 minLowest 5% above MA |
| Work from home | 17.8%±5.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
15.8%±3.5 MA: 18.6% |
13.3%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Ashby and Lunenburg 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 | #200 of 282 in MA | #87 of 282 in MA | #273 of 282 in MA |
| School district | North Middlesex | Lunenburg | Gardner |
| High school in town | None in town | Lunenburg High | Gardner High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.4Lowest |
13.5Highest |
| 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.