What stands out worked out from the figures below

Avon has the highest household income ($131k).

Gardner has the most affordable homes ($302k median).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Avon	Gardner
People
Population	4,774Lowest	21,148Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+9.7%Highest MA: +7.4%	+5.2%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	37.5±4Lowest 6% below MA	43.7±2.3Highest 9% above MA
	Gardner and Avon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21.6%±4.6Highest MA: 19.4%	18.3%±2.3Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Avon and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	17.6%±4.7Lowest MA: 17.9%	19.6%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9%
	Gardner and Avon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	30.6%Highest MA: 47.3%	23.8%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	7.6%±2.7Highest MA: 7.9%	4.6%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Avon and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$130,625±$33kHighest 26% above MA	$67,518±$8kLowest 35% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$509,600±$62kHighest 9% below MA	$301,600±$20kLowest 46% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,558±$265Highest 12% below MA	$1,109±$51Lowest 37% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,627Highest 11% above MA	$4,150Lowest 31% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	53.3%±24.4Highest MA: 51.8%	49.7%±8.6Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Avon and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.6%Lowest MA: 10%	13.7%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	75.7%Highest MA: 62.5%	58.9%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1954 10 yrs older than MA	1954 10 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minLowest 5% below MA	31 minHighest 5% above MA
Work from home	10.3%±3.9Lowest MA: 18.6%	13.3%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6%
	Gardner and Avon 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	#212 of 282 in MA	#273 of 282 in MA
School district	Avon	Gardner
High school in town	Avon Middle High School	Gardner High
Students per teacherat that high school	9.4Lowest	13.5Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.