Compare towns
Gardner vs Newfields vs Upton vs South Ashburnham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Gardner has the most renters (41.1% rent).
Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).
Upton has the most kids (23.2% under 18).
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 | Newfields | Upton | South Ashburnham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 21,148Highest |
2,023 |
8,189 |
1,500Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±2.3 12% above U.S. |
44.1±1.8 13% above U.S. |
46.4±4.8Highest 19% above U.S. |
38.1±10.4Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Upton and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.3%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±1.6 U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±8.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Upton and South Ashburnham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.6%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
13.6%±0.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
8.2%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Upton 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
68.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
53.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
27.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±7.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.2%±5.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Newfields and South Ashburnham 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 16% below U.S. |
$197,885±$15kHighest 145% above U.S. |
$155,508±$33k 93% above U.S. |
$126,071±$42k 56% above U.S. |
| Newfields and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $301,600±$20kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$646,400±$34kHighest 94% above U.S. |
$576,700±$41k 73% above U.S. |
$370,300±$56k 11% above U.S. |
| Newfields and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,109±$51 22% below U.S. |
$1,875±$323Highest 33% above U.S. |
$948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,150Lowest 33% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$8,376 169% above U.S. |
$4,896 57% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.7%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
43.3%±40.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31 U.S.: 51.1% |
100%±10.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 13.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
91.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1954Lowest 26 yrs older than U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1960 20 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 16% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
29 min 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.3%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.5%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.7%±18.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Newfields and Upton 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 | — | #46 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Gardner | Newfields School District | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | — |
| High school in town | Gardner High | None in town | Blackstone Valley | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
— | 11.2Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.