Compare towns
Gardner vs Lowell vs Worcester
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 homeowners (58.9%).
Lowell has the most expensive homes ($429k median).
Worcester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.1%).
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 | Lowell | Worcester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 21,148Lowest |
118,368 |
207,055Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8.5% MA: +7.4% |
+14.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±2.3Highest 9% above MA |
35.6±0.8 11% below MA |
33.9±0.5Lowest 15% below MA |
| Kids under 18 | 18.3%±2.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.7%±1.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±0.8 MA: 19.4% |
| Lowell and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.6%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
12.6%±0.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
13.3%±0.6 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 23.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
30% MA: 47.3% |
35.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
9.7%±0.6 MA: 7.9% |
14.1%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $67,518±$8kLowest 35% below MA |
$78,658±$4kHighest 24% below MA |
$70,102±$2k 33% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $301,600±$20kLowest 46% below MA |
$429,200±$11kHighest 24% below MA |
$374,400±$7k 33% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,109±$51Lowest 37% below MA |
$1,625±$40Highest 8% below MA |
$1,487±$38 16% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,150Lowest 31% below MA |
$4,499 25% below MA |
$4,733Highest 21% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.7%±8.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52.4%±3.8 MA: 51.8% |
54.2%±2.9Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Worcester and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 13.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
16.9% MA: 10% |
19.6%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
43.2% MA: 62.5% |
42.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1954Highest 10 yrs older than MA |
1953 11 yrs older than MA |
1951Lowest 13 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 5% above MA |
28 min 4% below MA |
24 minLowest 17% below MA |
| Work from home | 13.3%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.6%±1.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
11.5%±1 MA: 18.6% |
| Gardner and Worcester 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 | #255 of 282 in MA | #266 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Gardner | Lowell | Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester |
| High school in town | Gardner High | Lowell High | South High Community |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Lowest |
14.8Highest |
14.6 |
| 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.