Compare towns
Gardner vs Ogunquit 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).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
South Ashburnham has the most kids (21.1% under 18).
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 | Ogunquit | South Ashburnham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 21,148Highest |
1,379Lowest |
1,500 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±2.3 12% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
38.1±10.4Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Kids under 18 | 18.3%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±8.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| South Ashburnham 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
8.2%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 23.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
27.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.2%±5.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| South 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 16% below U.S. |
$114,259±$56k 42% above U.S. |
$126,071±$42kHighest 56% above U.S. |
| South Ashburnham and Ogunquit 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. |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
$370,300±$56k 11% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,109±$51 22% below U.S. |
— | — |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,150Lowest 33% above U.S. |
$4,473 43% above U.S. |
$4,896Highest 57% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.7%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
100%±10.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 13.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1954Lowest 26 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1960 20 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 16% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
29 min 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.3%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.7%±18.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ogunquit and South Ashburnham 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 | — | — |
| School district | Gardner | — | — |
| High school in town | Gardner High | — | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.