Compare towns
Gardner vs Athol vs Spencer
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Gardner has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.2%).
Athol has the most kids (21.8% under 18).
Spencer has the most expensive homes ($382k 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.
| Measure | Gardner | Athol | Spencer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 21,148Highest |
12,011 |
12,008Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.1% MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±2.3 9% above MA |
41.3±1.9Lowest 3% above MA |
48.9±6.8Highest 22% above MA |
| Spencer and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.3%±2.3 MA: 19.4% |
21.8%±3.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
16.4%±3.9Lowest 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%±2.2 MA: 17.9% |
19.3%±2.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
26%±4.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Spencer and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 23.8% MA: 47.3% |
20.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
29.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
3.6%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.2%±2.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Spencer and Gardner 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±$5k 33% below MA |
$80,533±$11kHighest 23% below MA |
| Spencer and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $301,600±$20k 46% below MA |
$268,100±$13kLowest 52% below MA |
$382,000±$22kHighest 32% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,109±$51 37% below MA |
$1,150±$182Highest 35% below MA |
$1,078±$161Lowest 39% 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 | $4,150 31% below MA |
$3,403Lowest 43% below MA |
$4,387Highest 27% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.7%±8.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
57.5%±17.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
50.6%±10.3 MA: 51.8% |
| Athol and Spencer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 13.7% MA: 10% |
16.3%Highest MA: 10% |
11%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
72.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
63% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1954 10 yrs older than MA |
1953Lowest 11 yrs older than MA |
1968Highest 4 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 5% above MA |
27 minLowest 8% below MA |
34 minHighest 18% above MA |
| Work from home | 13.3%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
10.6%±3.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
15%±7.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Spencer 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 | #273 of 282 in MA | #256 of 282 in MA | #261 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Gardner | Athol-Royalston | Spencer-E Brookfield |
| High school in town | Gardner High | Athol High | David Prouty High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
11.6 |
9.9Lowest |
| 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.