Compare towns
Gardner vs Dover vs South Ashburnham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Gardner has the most renters (41.1% rent).
Dover has the most expensive homes ($1340k median).
South Ashburnham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7%).
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 | Dover | South Ashburnham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 21,148Highest |
5,930 |
1,500Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6% MA: +7.4% |
+7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±2.3 9% above MA |
44.9±2.3Highest 12% above MA |
38.1±10.4Lowest 5% below MA |
| Dover 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% |
26%±5.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.1%±8.2 MA: 19.4% |
| Dover and South Ashburnham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.6%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.7%±2.9 MA: 17.9% |
8.2%±4.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Gardner and Dover 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 MA: 47.3% |
84.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
27.2% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
7.2%±2.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
7.2%±5.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $67,518±$8kLowest 35% below MA |
$250,001Highest 140% above MA |
$126,071±$42k 21% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $301,600±$20kLowest 46% below MA |
$1,340,300±$117kHighest 138% above MA |
$370,300±$56k 34% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,109±$51Lowest 37% below MA |
$2,917±$2kHighest 66% above MA |
— |
| Dover and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,150Lowest 31% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$4,896 18% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.7%±8.6 MA: 51.8% |
20%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
100%±10.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Below poverty line | 13.7%Highest MA: 10% |
2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
6.2% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
97.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
91.8% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1954Lowest 10 yrs older than MA |
1970Highest 6 yrs newer than MA |
1960 4 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 5% above MA |
35 minHighest 19% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 13.3%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
34.2%±6.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
14.7%±18.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Dover and South 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 | #1 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Gardner | Dover · Dover-Sherborn | — |
| High school in town | Gardner High | Dover-Sherborn Regional High | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
9.8Lowest |
— |
| 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.