Compare towns
Gardner vs Marshfield vs South Ashburnham
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 renters (41.1% rent).
Marshfield has the most expensive homes ($680k median).
South Ashburnham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7%).
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 | Marshfield | South Ashburnham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 21,148 |
25,879Highest |
1,500Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.2% MA: +7.4% |
+2.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±2.3 9% above MA |
45.9±2.6Highest 15% above MA |
38.1±10.4Lowest 5% below MA |
| Marshfield and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.3%±2.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±2.4 MA: 19.4% |
21.1%±8.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
| South Ashburnham and Marshfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.6%±2.2 MA: 17.9% |
20.2%±2Highest MA: 17.9% |
8.2%±4.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Marshfield and Gardner 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% |
52.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
27.2% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
4%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
7.2%±5.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
| South Ashburnham 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 |
$125,986±$8k 21% above MA |
$126,071±$42kHighest 21% above MA |
| South Ashburnham and Marshfield 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 |
$680,300±$27kHighest 21% above MA |
$370,300±$56k 34% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,109±$51Lowest 37% below MA |
$1,772±$123Highest about the MA average |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,150Lowest 31% below MA |
$6,656Highest 11% above MA |
$4,896 18% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.7%±8.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
68.1%±10.1 MA: 51.8% |
100%±10.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Below poverty line | 13.7%Highest MA: 10% |
8.7% MA: 10% |
6.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
80.8% MA: 62.5% |
91.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1954Lowest 10 yrs older than MA |
1968Highest 4 yrs newer than MA |
1960 4 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 5% above MA |
35 minHighest 19% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 13.3%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
24.8%±4.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
14.7%±18.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Marshfield and South 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 | #54 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Gardner | Marshfield | — |
| High school in town | Gardner High | Marshfield High | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
11.0Lowest |
— |
| 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.