Compare towns
Gardner vs Griswold vs Putnam 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).
Griswold has the oldest population (median age 48.1).
Putnam has the shortest commute (25 min average).
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 | Griswold | Putnam | Ashburnham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 21,148Highest |
11,530 |
9,292 |
6,415Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — | +3.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±2.3 12% above U.S. |
48.1±3.9Highest 24% above U.S. |
43.7±3 12% above U.S. |
40.7±6.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
| Griswold 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 U.S.: 22% |
18.5%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
22.6%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Ashburnham and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.6%±2.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.8%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.1%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Gardner and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 23.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
19.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
20% U.S.: 35.7% |
44%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Ashburnham and Gardner 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. |
$78,719±$11k about the U.S. average |
$70,561±$7k 13% below U.S. |
$118,809±$11kHighest 47% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $301,600±$20k 9% below U.S. |
$275,900±$42k 17% below U.S. |
$269,200±$11kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$390,700±$34kHighest 17% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,109±$51Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,177±$65 17% below U.S. |
$1,149±$44 19% below U.S. |
$1,807±$1kHighest 28% above U.S. |
| Ashburnham and Griswold are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,150 33% above U.S. |
$4,628 48% above U.S. |
$3,860Lowest 24% above U.S. |
$6,046Highest 94% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.7%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.5%±15.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ashburnham and Griswold 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% |
7.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
96%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1954Lowest 26 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1961 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 16% above U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 21% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.3%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16%±7.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #118 of 149 in CT | #128 of 149 in CT | #178 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Gardner | Griswold School District | Putnam School District | Ashburnham-Westminster |
| High school in town | Gardner High | Griswold High School | Putnam High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
11.5 |
9.5Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.