Compare towns
Gardner vs Hampton vs Morris
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 kids (19.7% under 18).
Morris has the most expensive homes ($396k median).
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 | Morris |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 21,148Highest |
1,647Lowest |
2,164 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 43.7±2.3Lowest 12% above U.S. |
51.5±5.3 32% above U.S. |
52.8±6.5Highest 36% above U.S. |
| Morris and Hampton 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%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.9%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Hampton and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.6%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.1%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
29.3%±6.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Morris and Hampton 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% |
41.5%Highest 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% |
5.2%±3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Morris 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. |
$109,167±$19k 35% above U.S. |
$109,191±$25kHighest 35% above U.S. |
| Morris 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. |
$396,000±$60kHighest 19% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,109±$51Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,285±$288Highest 9% below U.S. |
$1,204±$134 15% below U.S. |
| Hampton and Morris 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. |
$5,273Highest 69% 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% |
57.1%±31.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Morris 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% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1954Lowest 26 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 16% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 10% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.3%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±5.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.4%±5.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Morris and Hampton 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 | — | — |
| School district | Gardner | Hampton School District | Regional School District 20 |
| High school in town | Gardner High | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5 |
— | — |
| 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.