Compare towns
Concord vs Gardner vs Carlisle
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Concord has the most expensive homes ($1210k median).
Gardner has the most affordable homes ($302k median).
Carlisle has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.9%).
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 | Concord | Gardner | Carlisle |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 18,223 |
21,148Highest |
5,239Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.7%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+5.2% MA: +7.4% |
+7.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.6±2Highest 19% above MA |
43.7±2.3Lowest 9% above MA |
45.3±3.1 13% above MA |
| Concord and Carlisle are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23.6%±2.6 MA: 19.4% |
18.3%±2.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
26.4%±5.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Carlisle and Concord are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 23.7%±2.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.6%±2.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.7%±3.4 MA: 17.9% |
| Concord and Carlisle are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 79.4% MA: 47.3% |
23.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
87.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.5%±1.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
4%±1.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Concord and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $195,350±$22k 88% above MA |
$67,518±$8kLowest 35% below MA |
$250,001Highest 140% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,210,000±$72kHighest 115% above MA |
$301,600±$20kLowest 46% below MA |
$1,103,900±$46k 96% above MA |
| Concord and Carlisle are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,631±$166Highest 49% above MA |
$1,109±$51Lowest 37% below MA |
$1,313±$855 25% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$4,150Lowest 31% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.2%±10.5 MA: 51.8% |
49.7%±8.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
77%±21.4Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Carlisle and Concord are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.7% MA: 10% |
13.7%Highest MA: 10% |
1.5%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.7% MA: 62.5% |
58.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
93.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969 5 yrs newer than MA |
1954Lowest 10 yrs older than MA |
1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 11% above MA |
31 minLowest 5% above MA |
35 minHighest 21% above MA |
| Work from home | 36.1%±4.5 MA: 18.6% |
13.3%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
38.5%±8.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Carlisle and Concord 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 | #10 of 282 in MA | #273 of 282 in MA | #24 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Concord · Concord-Carlisle | Gardner | Carlisle |
| High school in town | Concord Carlisle High | Gardner High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4Lowest |
13.5Highest |
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| 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.