Compare towns
Gardner vs Bethlehem vs South 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 affordable homes ($302k median).
Bethlehem has the oldest population (median age 51.5).
South Ashburnham has the most homeowners (91.8%).
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 | Bethlehem | South Ashburnham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 21,148Highest |
3,423 |
1,500Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±2.3 12% above U.S. |
51.5±8.5Highest 32% above U.S. |
38.1±10.4Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Bethlehem 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 U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±8.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| South 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% |
24.5%±5.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
8.2%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bethlehem 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
27.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.2%±5.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| South Ashburnham 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 16% below U.S. |
$108,929±$16k 35% above U.S. |
$126,071±$42kHighest 56% above U.S. |
| South Ashburnham and Bethlehem 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. |
$410,900±$36kHighest 24% above U.S. |
$370,300±$56k 11% above U.S. |
| Bethlehem and South 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. |
$1,127±$124Highest 20% below U.S. |
— |
| Bethlehem and Gardner 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. |
$5,932Highest 90% above U.S. |
$4,896 57% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.7%±8.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
69.7%±38.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
100%±10.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| South Ashburnham and Bethlehem 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% |
10.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
70.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
91.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1954Lowest 26 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1960 20 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 16% above U.S. |
29 min 10% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.3%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.9%±5 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.7%±18.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| South Ashburnham and Bethlehem 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 | #82 of 149 in CT | — |
| School district | Gardner | Regional School District 14 | — |
| High school in town | Gardner High | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.