Compare towns
Gardner vs Chaplin vs 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 renters (41.1% rent).
Chaplin has the most affordable homes ($255k median).
Ashburnham has the most expensive homes ($391k 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 | Chaplin | Ashburnham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 21,148Highest |
2,070Lowest |
6,415 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +3.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±2.3Highest 12% above U.S. |
43.7±4.8Highest 12% above U.S. |
40.7±6.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 18.3%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
15.7%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.6%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| 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% |
20.9%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.1%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Chaplin 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% |
25.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
44%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
10.1%±6.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Chaplin and Ashburnham 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. |
$97,846±$14k 21% above U.S. |
$118,809±$11kHighest 47% above U.S. |
| Ashburnham and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $301,600±$20k 9% below U.S. |
$255,200±$24kLowest 23% below U.S. |
$390,700±$34kHighest 17% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,109±$51Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,473±$275 4% above U.S. |
$1,807±$1kHighest 28% above U.S. |
| Ashburnham and Chaplin 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. |
$4,524 45% above U.S. |
$6,046Highest 94% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.7%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
33.6%±27.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ashburnham and Gardner 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% |
5.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
96%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1954Lowest 26 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minLowest 16% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
32 min 21% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.3%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±10Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16%±7.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Chaplin and Ashburnham 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 | — | #178 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Gardner | Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 | Ashburnham-Westminster |
| High school in town | Gardner High | Parish Hill High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
7.5Lowest |
— |
| 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.