Compare towns
Gardner vs Dudley vs Ware vs 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).
Dudley has the shortest commute (27 min average).
Ware has the most affordable homes ($290k median).
Ashburnham has the highest household income ($119k).
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 | Dudley | Ware | Ashburnham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 21,148Highest |
11,929 |
10,048 |
6,415Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.7% MA: +7.4% |
+2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+3.8% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±2.3Highest 9% above MA |
40.2±2.4Lowest about the MA average |
43.1±4.7 8% above MA |
40.7±6.3 about the MA average |
| Gardner and Ware 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%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
19.1%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
22.6%±6Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Ashburnham and Dudley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.6%±2.2 MA: 17.9% |
16.9%±3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.6%±3.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.1%±4.5 MA: 17.9% |
| Ware 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 MA: 47.3% |
24.1% MA: 47.3% |
24% MA: 47.3% |
44%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
13.1%±2Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $67,518±$8k 35% below MA |
$84,604±$12k 19% below MA |
$67,475±$15kLowest 35% below MA |
$118,809±$11kHighest 14% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $301,600±$20k 46% below MA |
$392,600±$19kHighest 30% below MA |
$289,700±$28kLowest 48% below MA |
$390,700±$34k 30% below MA |
| Dudley and Ashburnham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,109±$51 37% below MA |
$1,217±$182 31% below MA |
$1,043±$109Lowest 41% below MA |
$1,807±$1kHighest about the MA average |
| Ashburnham and Dudley 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 |
$3,691Lowest 38% below MA |
$4,237 29% below MA |
$6,046Highest about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.7%±8.6 MA: 51.8% |
47.4%±4.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
64.3%±16.2 MA: 51.8% |
100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Ashburnham and Ware 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% |
6.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
11.8% MA: 10% |
6.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
73.1% MA: 62.5% |
72.3% MA: 62.5% |
96%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1954Lowest 10 yrs older than MA |
1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
1960 4 yrs older than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 5% above MA |
27 minLowest 6% below MA |
28 min about the MA average |
32 minHighest 10% above MA |
| Work from home | 13.3%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
9.1%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
16%±7.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Ashburnham 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 | #142 of 282 in MA | #267 of 282 in MA | #178 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Gardner | Dudley-Charlton Reg | Ware | Ashburnham-Westminster |
| High school in town | Gardner High | Shepherd Hill Regional High | Ware Junior/Senior High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5 |
14.3Highest |
11.1Lowest |
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| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.