What stands out worked out from the figures below

Clinton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13.4%).

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	Clinton	Gardner
People
Population	15,563Lowest	21,148Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+13.4%Highest MA: +7.4%	+5.2%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	38.6±2.7Lowest 4% below MA	43.7±2.3Highest 9% above MA
Kids under 18	17.8%±2.5Lowest MA: 19.4%	18.3%±2.3Highest MA: 19.4%
	Gardner and Clinton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	14.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9%	19.6%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	36.6%Highest MA: 47.3%	23.8%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.9%±2Highest MA: 7.9%	4.6%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Clinton and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$89,781±$10kHighest 14% below MA	$67,518±$8kLowest 35% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$387,300±$19kHighest 31% below MA	$301,600±$20kLowest 46% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,402±$76Highest 20% below MA	$1,109±$51Lowest 37% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,654Highest 22% below MA	$4,150Lowest 31% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	40.3%±6.4Lowest MA: 51.8%	49.7%±8.6Highest MA: 51.8%
	Gardner and Clinton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.6%Lowest MA: 10%	13.7%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	54.7%Lowest MA: 62.5%	58.9%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1956Highest 8 yrs older than MA	1954Lowest 10 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minLowest about the MA average	31 minHighest 5% above MA
Work from home	14.2%±4.2Highest MA: 18.6%	13.3%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Clinton 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	#246 of 282 in MA	#273 of 282 in MA
School district	Clinton	Gardner
High school in town	Clinton Senior High	Gardner High
Students per teacherat that high school	12.8Lowest	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.