Compare towns
Gardner vs Hermon vs Ogunquit vs North Adams
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hermon has the most kids (21.6% under 18).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
North Adams has the most affordable homes ($196k 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 | Hermon | Ogunquit | North Adams |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 21,148Highest |
6,727 |
1,379Lowest |
12,606 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+19.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±2.3 12% above U.S. |
41.1±4.7Lowest 6% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
44.1±3.5 13% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 18.3%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
21.6%±4.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.7%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Hermon 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% |
20.4%±4.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.6%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 23.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
9.8%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $67,518±$8k 16% below U.S. |
$96,629±$22k 20% above U.S. |
$114,259±$56kHighest 42% above U.S. |
$47,500±$7kLowest 41% below U.S. |
| Ogunquit and Hermon 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. |
$333,600±$32k about the U.S. average |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
$195,900±$14kLowest 41% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,109±$51 22% below U.S. |
$1,406±$202Highest about the U.S. average |
— | $793±$113Lowest 44% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,150 33% above U.S. |
$2,761Lowest 11% below U.S. |
$4,473Highest 43% above U.S. |
$3,078 about the U.S. average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.7%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
28.2%±19.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
63.7%±11Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| North Adams and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 13.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
18.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
51%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1954 26 yrs older than U.S. |
2000Highest 20 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 16% above U.S. |
23 min 14% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
17 minLowest 34% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.3%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.8%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.2%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #273 of 282 in MA | #54 of 133 in ME | — | #268 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Gardner | Hermon Public Schools | — | North Adams · Northern Berkshire Regional Vocational Technical |
| High school in town | Gardner High | Hermon High School | — | Charles McCann Vocational Technical |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5 |
14.6Highest |
— | 10.6Lowest |
| 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.