Compare towns
Brimfield vs Gardner vs Warren
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brimfield has the highest household income ($111k).
Gardner has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.2%).
Warren has the youngest population (median age 38.7).
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 | Brimfield | Gardner | Warren |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,705Lowest |
21,148Highest |
5,009 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.4% MA: +7.4% |
+5.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±5.3Highest 9% above MA |
43.7±2.3Highest 9% above MA |
38.7±7.3Lowest 3% below MA |
| Kids under 18 | 21.2%±6Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.3%±2.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.8%±8 MA: 19.4% |
| Brimfield and Warren are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.3%±4.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.6%±2.2 MA: 17.9% |
14.6%±4.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Brimfield and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
23.8% MA: 47.3% |
23.2%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±2.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Gardner and Brimfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $111,250±$22kHighest 7% above MA |
$67,518±$8k 35% below MA |
$66,082±$6kLowest 36% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $389,100±$27kHighest 31% below MA |
$301,600±$20kLowest 46% below MA |
$333,700±$35k 41% below MA |
| Brimfield and Warren are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $886±$365Lowest 50% below MA |
$1,109±$51Highest 37% below MA |
$890±$174 49% below MA |
| Gardner and Warren are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,128Highest 14% below MA |
$4,150Lowest 31% below MA |
$4,530 24% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.2%±25.4Highest MA: 51.8% |
49.7%±8.6 MA: 51.8% |
29.7%±18.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Brimfield and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
13.7%Highest MA: 10% |
9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
58.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
64.5% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 24 yrs newer than MA |
1954Lowest 10 yrs older than MA |
1975 11 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 16% above MA |
31 minLowest 5% above MA |
33 min 13% above MA |
| Work from home | 13.7%±5.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
13.3%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
8.5%±5.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Brimfield 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 | #108 of 282 in MA | #273 of 282 in MA | #165 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Brimfield | Gardner | Quaboag Regional |
| High school in town | None in town | Gardner High | Quaboag Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.5Highest |
10.0Lowest |
| 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.