Compare towns
Gardner vs Orange vs Wendell
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Gardner has the most renters (41.1% rent).
Orange has the most kids (22.2% under 18).
Wendell has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9%).
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 | Orange | Wendell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 21,148Highest |
7,573 |
850Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.2% MA: +7.4% |
-3.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±2.3 9% above MA |
41.8±2.2Lowest 4% above MA |
47.1±8.8Highest 18% above MA |
| Wendell 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% |
22.2%±3.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
16%±3.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Orange and Gardner 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% |
20.3%±3.1 MA: 17.9% |
22.7%±5.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Wendell and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 23.8% MA: 47.3% |
15.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
51.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
2%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Wendell 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±$8kHighest 35% below MA |
$55,824±$10kLowest 46% below MA |
$65,288±$14k 37% below MA |
| Gardner and Wendell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $301,600±$20kHighest 46% below MA |
$245,900±$18kLowest 56% below MA |
$290,300±$31k 48% below MA |
| Gardner and Wendell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,109±$51 37% below MA |
$775±$233Lowest 56% below MA |
$1,239±$519Highest 30% below MA |
| Wendell 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 |
$4,136Lowest 31% below MA |
$4,519Highest 25% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.7%±8.6 MA: 51.8% |
41%±11.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
55.6%±40.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Wendell 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% |
22.4%Highest MA: 10% |
21.3% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
70% MA: 62.5% |
86.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1954Lowest 10 yrs older than MA |
1966 2 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minLowest 5% above MA |
33 min 13% above MA |
33 minHighest 13% above MA |
| Work from home | 13.3%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
6.6%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
16.8%±7.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Wendell 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 | #275 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Gardner | Orange · Ralph C Mahar | New Salem-Wendell |
| High school in town | Gardner High | Ralph C Mahar Regional | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
9.0Lowest |
— |
| 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.