What stands out worked out from the figures below

Gardner has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.2%).

North Adams has the shortest commute (17 min average).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Gardner	North Adams
People
Population	21,148Highest	12,606Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.2%Highest MA: +7.4%	-5.4%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	43.7±2.3Lowest 9% above MA	44.1±3.5Highest 10% above MA
	North Adams and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18.3%±2.3Highest MA: 19.4%	15.7%±2.9Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Gardner and North Adams 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%	21.6%±2.6Highest MA: 17.9%
	North Adams 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%	28.4%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.6%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9%	9.8%±2Highest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$67,518±$8kHighest 35% below MA	$47,500±$7kLowest 54% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$301,600±$20kHighest 46% below MA	$195,900±$14kLowest 65% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,109±$51Highest 37% below MA	$793±$113Lowest 55% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,150Highest 31% below MA	$3,078Lowest 49% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	49.7%±8.6Lowest MA: 51.8%	63.7%±11Highest MA: 51.8%
	North Adams and Gardner 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%	18.6%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	58.9%Highest MA: 62.5%	51%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1954Highest 10 yrs older than MA	1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minHighest 5% above MA	17 minLowest 40% below MA
Work from home	13.3%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6%	9.2%±3.5Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Gardner and North Adams 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	#268 of 282 in MA
School district	Gardner	North Adams · Northern Berkshire Regional Vocational Technical
High school in town	Gardner High	Charles McCann Vocational Technical
Students per teacherat that high school	13.5Highest	10.6Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.