Compare towns
Gardner vs Lancaster vs Sterling
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Gardner has the most affordable homes ($302k median).
Lancaster has the most people working from home (33.6%).
Sterling has the oldest population (median age 51.5).
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 | Lancaster | Sterling |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 21,148Highest |
8,606 |
8,183Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.8% MA: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±2.3 9% above MA |
43.1±4.9Lowest 8% above MA |
51.5±1.8Highest 29% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 18.3%±2.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19.2%±4Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±4.1 MA: 19.4% |
| Lancaster and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.6%±2.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.9%±4.2 MA: 17.9% |
22.9%±4Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Sterling and Lancaster 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 MA: 47.3% |
50.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
48.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
3%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.8%±1.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Sterling 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 35% below MA |
$134,833±$27kHighest 30% above MA |
$129,063±$27k 24% above MA |
| Lancaster and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $301,600±$20kLowest 46% below MA |
$519,100±$60kHighest 8% below MA |
$498,800±$48k 11% below MA |
| Lancaster and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,109±$51Lowest 37% below MA |
$2,338±$539Highest 33% above MA |
$1,699±$161 4% below MA |
| Lancaster and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,150Lowest 31% below MA |
$7,235Highest 21% above MA |
$6,757 13% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.7%±8.6 MA: 51.8% |
68.3%±36.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
46%±23.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Lancaster and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 13.7%Highest MA: 10% |
1.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
6% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
85.1% MA: 62.5% |
86.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1954Lowest 10 yrs older than MA |
1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minLowest 5% above MA |
32 min 9% above MA |
34 minHighest 18% above MA |
| Work from home | 13.3%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
33.6%±9.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
18.3%±6.2 MA: 18.6% |
| Lancaster and Sterling 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 | #145 of 282 in MA | #135 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Gardner | Nashoba | Wachusett |
| 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 |
MA 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.