Compare towns
Gardner vs Milford vs 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 affordable homes ($302k median).
Milford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).
Ashburnham has the most homeowners (96%).
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 | Milford | Ashburnham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 21,148 |
30,431Highest |
6,415Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.2% MA: +7.4% |
+8.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±2.3Highest 9% above MA |
38.9±1.8Lowest about the MA average |
40.7±6.3 about the MA average |
| Gardner and Ashburnham 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% |
20.7%±2.4 MA: 19.4% |
22.6%±6Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Ashburnham and Milford 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% |
18.8%±2 MA: 17.9% |
18.1%±4.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Gardner and Milford 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% |
35.3% MA: 47.3% |
44%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±2.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
| 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 |
$96,365±$4k 7% below MA |
$118,809±$11kHighest 14% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $301,600±$20kLowest 46% below MA |
$476,700±$12kHighest 15% below MA |
$390,700±$34k 30% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,109±$51Lowest 37% below MA |
$1,909±$137Highest 8% above MA |
$1,807±$1k about the MA average |
| Milford and Ashburnham 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 |
$5,869 about the MA average |
$6,046Highest about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.7%±8.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
56.8%±8.5 MA: 51.8% |
100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Ashburnham and Milford 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% |
7.6% MA: 10% |
6.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
65.2% MA: 62.5% |
96%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1954Lowest 10 yrs older than MA |
1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minLowest 5% above MA |
37 minHighest 27% above MA |
32 min 10% above MA |
| Work from home | 13.3%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
14.5%±2.2 MA: 18.6% |
16%±7.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Ashburnham and Milford 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 | #213 of 282 in MA | #178 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Gardner | Milford | Ashburnham-Westminster |
| High school in town | Gardner High | Milford High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
11.9Lowest |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.