Compare towns
Gardner vs Halifax vs Putnam
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).
Halifax has the highest household income ($119k).
Putnam has the shortest commute (25 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 | Halifax | Putnam |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 21,148Highest |
7,748Lowest |
9,292 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 43.7±2.3Highest 12% above U.S. |
41.9±4.7Lowest 8% above U.S. |
43.7±3Highest 12% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 18.3%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Halifax 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% |
18.8%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Gardner and Halifax 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% |
36.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
20%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Halifax 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. |
$118,556±$11kHighest 47% above U.S. |
$70,561±$7k 13% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $301,600±$20k 9% below U.S. |
$481,500±$51kHighest 45% above U.S. |
$269,200±$11kLowest 19% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,109±$51Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,804±$375Highest 28% above U.S. |
$1,149±$44 19% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,150 33% above U.S. |
$6,840Highest 119% above U.S. |
$3,860Lowest 24% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.7%±8.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.6%±37.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Gardner and Halifax 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% |
2.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1954Lowest 26 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1961 19 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 16% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.3%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.9%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Halifax 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 | #120 of 282 in MA | #128 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Gardner | Halifax | Putnam School District |
| High school in town | Gardner High | None in town | Putnam High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
— | 9.5Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.