Compare towns
Gardner vs Andover vs Ripton vs Ashburnham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Gardner has the most renters (41.1% rent).
Andover has the most people working from home (29.6%).
Ripton has the shortest commute (24 min average).
Ashburnham has the most kids (22.6% under 18).
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 | Gardner | Andover | Ripton | Ashburnham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 21,148Highest |
616 |
508Lowest |
6,415 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +25.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±2.3 12% above U.S. |
49.2±5.1Highest 26% above U.S. |
47.7±14.2 23% above U.S. |
40.7±6.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
| Andover and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.3%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
11.5%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
11.8%±6.3 U.S.: 22% |
22.6%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Ashburnham and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.6%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.7%±4.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.5%±7.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.1%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ripton and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 23.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
48%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
20.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $67,518±$8kLowest 16% below U.S. |
$102,500±$38k 27% above U.S. |
$112,917±$15k 40% above U.S. |
$118,809±$11kHighest 47% above U.S. |
| Ashburnham and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $301,600±$20kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$382,900±$68k 15% above U.S. |
$394,400±$61kHighest 19% above U.S. |
$390,700±$34k 17% above U.S. |
| Ripton and Ashburnham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,109±$51Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,389±$364 about the U.S. average |
— | $1,807±$1kHighest 28% above U.S. |
| Ashburnham and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,150Lowest 33% above U.S. |
$5,190 66% above U.S. |
$4,915 58% above U.S. |
$6,046Highest 94% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.7%±8.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
69.4%±47.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.9%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ashburnham and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 13.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
96%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1954Lowest 26 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 16% above U.S. |
25 min 5% below U.S. |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 21% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.3%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
29.6%±12.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±8.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
16%±7.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Andover and Ripton 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 | — | — | #178 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Gardner | — | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Ashburnham-Westminster |
| High school in town | Gardner High | — | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5 |
— | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.