What stands out worked out from the figures below

Gardner has the most people working from home (13.3%).

Pawtucket has the most kids (22.4% 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Gardner	Pawtucket
People
Population	21,148Lowest	75,893Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+6.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	43.7±2.3Highest 12% above U.S.	37.1±0.8Lowest 5% below U.S.
Kids under 18	18.3%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22%	22.4%±1.6Highest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	19.6%±2.2Highest U.S.: 17.2%	14.5%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	23.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	22.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.6%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	5.6%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Pawtucket 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.	$68,310±$4kHighest 15% below U.S.
	Pawtucket 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 9% below U.S.	$325,500±$8kHighest about the U.S. average
	Pawtucket and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,109±$51Lowest 22% below U.S.	$1,208±$39Highest 15% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,150Highest 33% above U.S.	$4,115Lowest 32% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	49.7%±8.6Highest U.S.: 51.1%	45.9%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Gardner and Pawtucket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	13.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	13.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	58.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	50.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1954Highest 26 yrs older than U.S.	1947Lowest 33 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minHighest 16% above U.S.	26 minLowest 3% below U.S.
Work from home	13.3%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1%	9.2%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Gardner and Pawtucket 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	#35 of 38 in RI
School district	Gardner	Blackstone Academy · Pawtucket
High school in town	Gardner High	William E. Tolman High
Students per teacherat that high school	13.5Lowest	14.6Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.