What stands out worked out from the figures below

Gardner has the most people working from home (13.3%).

Central Falls has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.6%).

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	Central Falls
People
Population	21,148Lowest	22,701Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+16.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	43.7±2.3Highest 12% above U.S.	32.5±2.3Lowest 16% below U.S.
Kids under 18	18.3%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22%	26.1%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	19.6%±2.2Highest U.S.: 17.2%	10.7%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	23.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	10.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.6%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4%	4.6%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$67,518±$8kHighest 16% below U.S.	$49,285±$8kLowest 39% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$301,600±$20kLowest 9% below U.S.	$352,100±$30kHighest 6% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,109±$51Lowest 22% below U.S.	$1,200±$75Highest 15% below U.S.
	Central Falls and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,150Highest 33% above U.S.	$3,744Lowest 20% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	49.7%±8.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	56.7%±8.2Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Central Falls 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 U.S.: 12.5%	24.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	58.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	25.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1954Highest 26 yrs older than U.S.	1944Lowest 36 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minHighest 16% above U.S.	27 minLowest 4% above U.S.
Work from home	13.3%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1%	5.2%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#273 of 282 in MA	#38 of 38 in RI
School district	Gardner	Learning Community · Segue Institute for Learning
High school in town	Gardner High	Central Falls Sr High
Students per teacherat that high school	13.5Lowest	14.6Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.