What stands out worked out from the figures below

Gardner has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.2%).

Dalton has the shortest commute (22 min average).

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	Dalton
People
Population	21,148Highest	6,256Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.2%Highest MA: +7.4%	-6.3%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	43.7±2.3Lowest 9% above MA	49.7±5.8Highest 24% above MA
	Dalton and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18.3%±2.3Lowest MA: 19.4%	20.6%±4.7Highest MA: 19.4%
	Dalton and Gardner 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%	27.9%±5.7Highest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	23.8%Lowest MA: 47.3%	44.3%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.6%±1.3Highest MA: 7.9%	2.3%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Gardner and Dalton 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	$79,438±$8kHighest 24% below MA
	Dalton and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$301,600±$20kHighest 46% below MA	$295,700±$26kLowest 47% below MA
	Gardner and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,109±$51Highest 37% below MA	$872±$70Lowest 51% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,150Lowest 31% below MA	$4,276Highest 29% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	49.7%±8.6Highest MA: 51.8%	41.2%±19Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Gardner and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	13.7%Highest MA: 10%	7.4%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	58.9%Lowest MA: 62.5%	70.7%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1954Lowest 10 yrs older than MA	1957Highest 7 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minHighest 5% above MA	22 minLowest 24% below MA
Work from home	13.3%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6%	12.5%±7.1Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Gardner and Dalton 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	#192 of 282 in MA
School district	Gardner	Central Berkshire
High school in town	Gardner High	Wahconah Regional High
Students per teacherat that high school	13.5Highest	10.9Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.