Compare towns
Gardner vs Bourne vs North Adams
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%).
Bourne has the most expensive homes ($576k median).
North Adams has the most affordable homes ($196k 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 | Bourne | North Adams |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 21,148Highest |
20,323 |
12,606Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.5% MA: +7.4% |
-5.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±2.3Lowest 9% above MA |
52±1.8Highest 30% above MA |
44.1±3.5 10% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 18.3%±2.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
14.7%±2.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
15.7%±2.9 MA: 19.4% |
| Gardner and North Adams are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.6%±2.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
29.8%±3.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
21.6%±2.6 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 23.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
46%Highest MA: 47.3% |
28.4% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.6%±1.6 MA: 7.9% |
9.8%±2Highest MA: 7.9% |
| North Adams and Bourne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $67,518±$8k 35% below MA |
$91,058±$7kHighest 12% below MA |
$47,500±$7kLowest 54% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $301,600±$20k 46% below MA |
$575,600±$28kHighest about the MA average |
$195,900±$14kLowest 65% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,109±$51 37% below MA |
$1,379±$300Highest 22% below MA |
$793±$113Lowest 55% below MA |
| Bourne 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 |
$4,485Highest 25% below MA |
$3,078Lowest 49% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.7%±8.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
62.8%±5.5 MA: 51.8% |
63.7%±11Highest MA: 51.8% |
| North Adams and Bourne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 13.7% MA: 10% |
6.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
18.6%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.9% MA: 62.5% |
75.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
51%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1954 10 yrs older than MA |
1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 5% above MA |
26 min 11% below MA |
17 minLowest 40% below MA |
| Work from home | 13.3%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
14.9%±3.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
9.2%±3.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Bourne 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 | #206 of 282 in MA | #268 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Gardner | Bourne · Upper Cape Cod Regional Vocational Technical | North Adams · Northern Berkshire Regional Vocational Technical |
| High school in town | Gardner High | Upper Cape Cod Vocational Technical | Charles McCann Vocational Technical |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
9.8Lowest |
10.6 |
| 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.