Compare towns
Ashfield vs Gardner vs Leverett
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ashfield has the oldest population (median age 58.6).
Gardner has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.2%).
Leverett has the highest household income ($105k).
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 | Ashfield | Gardner | Leverett |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,893 |
21,148Highest |
1,608Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+5.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+0.8% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 58.6±3.4Highest 47% above MA |
43.7±2.3Lowest 9% above MA |
56±6.4 40% above MA |
| Ashfield and Leverett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 12.4%±3.6Lowest MA: 19.4% |
18.3%±2.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
13.7%±2.4 MA: 19.4% |
| Gardner and Leverett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 33.7%±2.9 MA: 17.9% |
19.6%±2.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
34.8%±4.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Leverett and Ashfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52% MA: 47.3% |
23.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
67.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.2%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.1%±1 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $80,833±$16k 22% below MA |
$67,518±$8kLowest 35% below MA |
$104,688±$18kHighest about the MA average |
| Leverett and Ashfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $400,600±$30k 29% below MA |
$301,600±$20kLowest 46% below MA |
$435,500±$35kHighest 23% below MA |
| Leverett and Ashfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,100±$200Lowest 38% below MA |
$1,109±$51 37% below MA |
$1,389±$135Highest 21% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,197 13% below MA |
$4,150Lowest 31% below MA |
$6,779Highest 13% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.5%±34 MA: 51.8% |
49.7%±8.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
73.3%±6.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Leverett and Ashfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.1%Lowest MA: 10% |
13.7%Highest MA: 10% |
10% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.5% MA: 62.5% |
58.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
87.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
1954Lowest 10 yrs older than MA |
1973Highest 9 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min about the MA average |
31 minHighest 5% above MA |
27 minLowest 9% below MA |
| Work from home | 24%±6 MA: 18.6% |
13.3%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
28.5%±5Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Leverett and Ashfield 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 | — | #273 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Mohawk Trail | Gardner | Leverett |
| 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 |
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.