Compare towns
Gardner vs North Adams vs Templeton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
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).
Templeton has the highest household income ($101k).
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 | North Adams | Templeton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 21,148Highest |
12,606 |
8,252Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-5.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+1.7% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±2.3 9% above MA |
44.1±3.5Highest 10% above MA |
40.3±5.1Lowest about the MA average |
| 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%±2.3 MA: 19.4% |
15.7%±2.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.9%±5.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Templeton and Gardner 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% |
21.6%±2.6Highest MA: 17.9% |
14.7%±2.8Lowest 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% |
26.9% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
9.8%±2Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.4%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $67,518±$8k 35% below MA |
$47,500±$7kLowest 54% below MA |
$101,154±$15kHighest about the MA average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $301,600±$20k 46% below MA |
$195,900±$14kLowest 65% below MA |
$358,500±$12kHighest 36% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,109±$51 37% below MA |
$793±$113Lowest 55% below MA |
$1,207±$353Highest 31% below MA |
| Templeton and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,150 31% below MA |
$3,078Lowest 49% below MA |
$4,554Highest 24% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.7%±8.6 MA: 51.8% |
63.7%±11Highest MA: 51.8% |
44.7%±26.1Lowest 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% MA: 10% |
18.6%Highest MA: 10% |
10.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.9% MA: 62.5% |
51%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
85.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1954 10 yrs older than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1972Highest 8 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 5% above MA |
17 minLowest 40% below MA |
28 min 5% below MA |
| Work from home | 13.3%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
9.2%±3.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
16.9%±5.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Templeton and Gardner 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 | #244 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Gardner | North Adams · Northern Berkshire Regional Vocational Technical | Narragansett |
| High school in town | Gardner High | Charles McCann Vocational Technical | Narragansett Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
10.6Lowest |
12.2 |
| 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.