Compare towns
Gardner vs Ossipee vs North Adams
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.2%).
Ossipee has the most homeowners (82%).
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.
| Measure | Gardner | Ossipee | North Adams |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 21,148Highest |
4,521Lowest |
12,606 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±2.3Lowest 12% above U.S. |
50±4.6Highest 29% above U.S. |
44.1±3.5 13% above U.S. |
| Ossipee and North Adams are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.3%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
19.5%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.7%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Ossipee 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.3%±5.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.6%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ossipee and North Adams 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
24.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
28.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
9.8%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $67,518±$8k 16% below U.S. |
$90,521±$22kHighest 12% above U.S. |
$47,500±$7kLowest 41% below U.S. |
| Ossipee 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±$20k 9% below U.S. |
$325,500±$23kHighest about the U.S. average |
$195,900±$14kLowest 41% below U.S. |
| Ossipee and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,109±$51 22% below U.S. |
$1,601±$245Highest 13% above U.S. |
$793±$113Lowest 44% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,150 33% above U.S. |
$4,401Highest 41% above U.S. |
$3,078Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.7%±8.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
72%±16.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
63.7%±11 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ossipee and North Adams are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 13.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
18.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
82%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
51%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1954 26 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 16% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
17 minLowest 34% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.3%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
5.3%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.2%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #100 of 120 in NH | #268 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Gardner | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | North Adams · Northern Berkshire Regional Vocational Technical |
| High school in town | Gardner High | None in town | Charles McCann Vocational Technical |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
— | 10.6Lowest |
| 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.