What stands out worked out from the figures below

Gardner has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.2%).

Athol has the most homeowners (72.4%).

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	Gardner	Athol
People
Population	21,148Highest	12,011Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.2%Highest MA: +7.4%	+3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	43.7±2.3Highest 9% above MA	41.3±1.9Lowest 3% above MA
	Gardner and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18.3%±2.3Lowest MA: 19.4%	21.8%±3.2Highest MA: 19.4%
	Athol and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19.6%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9%	19.3%±2.3Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Gardner and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	23.8%Highest MA: 47.3%	20.4%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.6%±1.3Highest MA: 7.9%	3.6%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Gardner and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$67,518±$8kLowest 35% below MA	$69,316±$5kHighest 33% below MA
	Athol and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$301,600±$20kHighest 46% below MA	$268,100±$13kLowest 52% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,109±$51Lowest 37% below MA	$1,150±$182Highest 35% below MA
	Athol and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,150Highest 31% below MA	$3,403Lowest 43% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	49.7%±8.6Lowest MA: 51.8%	57.5%±17.2Highest MA: 51.8%
	Athol and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	13.7%Lowest MA: 10%	16.3%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	58.9%Lowest MA: 62.5%	72.4%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1954Highest 10 yrs older than MA	1953Lowest 11 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minHighest 5% above MA	27 minLowest 8% below MA
Work from home	13.3%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6%	10.6%±3.3Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Gardner and Athol 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	#256 of 282 in MA
School district	Gardner	Athol-Royalston
High school in town	Gardner High	Athol High
Students per teacherat that high school	13.5Highest	11.6Lowest
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.