Compare towns
Gardner vs Exeter vs West Springfield Town
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 affordable homes ($302k median).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
West Springfield Town has the shortest commute (19 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.
| Measure | Gardner | Exeter | West Springfield Town |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 21,148 |
16,151Lowest |
28,772Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±2.3 12% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3Highest 18% above U.S. |
40.1±2.6Lowest 3% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.3%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±2.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| West Springfield Town 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% |
24.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.5%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Exeter 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% |
59.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter and West Springfield Town 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. |
$110,346±$13kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$69,371±$7k 14% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $301,600±$20kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$456,600±$21kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$321,500±$16k 3% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,109±$51Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S. |
$1,144±$68 19% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,150Lowest 33% above U.S. |
$8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$4,380 40% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.7%±8.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
60.1%±9.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| West Springfield Town and Exeter 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% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
58.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1954Lowest 26 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1958 22 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 16% above U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.3%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.4%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Exeter 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 | #22 of 120 in NH | #218 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Gardner | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | West Springfield |
| High school in town | Gardner High | Exeter High School | West Springfield High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
12.1Lowest |
13.1 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 59 photos → | 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.