Compare towns
Barnard vs Gardner vs St. George
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Barnard has the most expensive homes ($403k median).
Gardner has the most renters (41.1% rent).
St. George has grown the fastest since 2010 (+17.8%).
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 | Barnard | Gardner | St. George |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,211 |
21,148Highest |
812Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+17.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.4±6Lowest 9% above U.S. |
43.7±2.3 12% above U.S. |
44.7±13.4Highest 15% above U.S. |
| St. George and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 26.9%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.3%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
25.6%±7 U.S.: 22% |
| Barnard and St. George are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22%±3.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.6%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.9%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Barnard and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
23.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
53.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±3.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| St. George and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $97,581±$19k 21% above U.S. |
$67,518±$8kLowest 16% below U.S. |
$109,464±$34kHighest 36% above U.S. |
| St. George and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $402,600±$71kHighest 21% above U.S. |
$301,600±$20kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$376,800±$50k 13% above U.S. |
| Barnard and St. George are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,372±$80 about the U.S. average |
$1,109±$51Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,394±$132Highest about the U.S. average |
| St. George and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,038Highest 94% above U.S. |
$4,150Lowest 33% above U.S. |
$5,514 77% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27%±19.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
49.7%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
96%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| St. George and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
13.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
58.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1954Lowest 26 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 8% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 16% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 28% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.3%±10.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
27.6%±8.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| St. George and Barnard 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 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Gardner | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Gardner High | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.5 |
— |
| 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.