What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

North Brookfield has the most expensive homes ($359k median).

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 Brookfield
People
Population	21,148Highest	4,760Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.2%Highest MA: +7.4%	+1.2%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	43.7±2.3Lowest 9% above MA	45.2±9.4Highest 13% above MA
	North Brookfield 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%	16.9%±4.2Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Gardner and North Brookfield 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%	18.7%±5Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Gardner and North Brookfield 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%	26.3%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.6%±1.3Highest MA: 7.9%	4.5%±2.3Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Gardner and North Brookfield 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	$79,285±$11kHighest 24% below MA
	North Brookfield and Gardner 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	$359,100±$32kHighest 36% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,109±$51Highest 37% below MA	$981±$63Lowest 44% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,150Lowest 31% below MA	$4,176Highest 30% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	49.7%±8.6Lowest MA: 51.8%	52.4%±15.8Highest MA: 51.8%
	North Brookfield and Gardner 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%	12.9%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	58.9%Lowest MA: 62.5%	69.3%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1954Highest 10 yrs older than MA	1953Lowest 11 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minLowest 5% above MA	37 minHighest 28% above MA
Work from home	13.3%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6%	13.1%±4.4Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Gardner and North Brookfield 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	#270 of 282 in MA
School district	Gardner	North Brookfield
High school in town	Gardner High	North Brookfield High
Students per teacherat that high school	13.5Highest	5.5Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.