Compare towns
Gardner vs Hampton vs Ashburnham vs Spencer
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).
Hampton has the most people working from home (17.7%).
Ashburnham has the most kids (22.6% under 18).
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 | Hampton | Ashburnham | Spencer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 21,148Highest |
1,647Lowest |
6,415 |
12,008 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +3.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±2.3 12% above U.S. |
51.5±5.3Highest 32% above U.S. |
40.7±6.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
48.9±6.8 26% above U.S. |
| Hampton and Spencer 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% |
19.7%±5.3 U.S.: 22% |
22.6%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.4%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Ashburnham and Hampton 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% |
26.1%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.1%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26%±4.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hampton and Spencer 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% |
29.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
44%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
29.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Ashburnham and Spencer 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. |
$109,167±$19k 35% above U.S. |
$118,809±$11kHighest 47% above U.S. |
$80,533±$11k about the U.S. average |
| Ashburnham and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $301,600±$20k 9% below U.S. |
$295,800±$27kLowest 11% below U.S. |
$390,700±$34kHighest 17% above U.S. |
$382,000±$22k 15% above U.S. |
| Ashburnham and Spencer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,109±$51 22% below U.S. |
$1,285±$288 9% below U.S. |
$1,807±$1kHighest 28% above U.S. |
$1,078±$161Lowest 24% below U.S. |
| Ashburnham and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,150Lowest 33% above U.S. |
$4,364 40% above U.S. |
$6,046Highest 94% above U.S. |
$4,387 41% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.7%±8.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.5%±51.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±10.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ashburnham and Hampton 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% |
5.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
11% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90% U.S.: 65.2% |
96%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
63% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1954Lowest 26 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 16% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 10% above U.S. |
32 min 21% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.3%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±5.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16%±7.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
15%±7.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hampton and 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 | — | #178 of 282 in MA | #261 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Gardner | Hampton School District | Ashburnham-Westminster | Spencer-E Brookfield |
| High school in town | Gardner High | None in town | None in town | David Prouty High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
— | — | 9.9Lowest |
| 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.