Compare towns
Gardner vs Pawtucket 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 the most people working from home (13.3%).
Pawtucket has the most kids (22.4% under 18).
North Adams has the most affordable homes ($196k 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.
| Measure | Gardner | Pawtucket | North Adams |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 21,148 |
75,893Highest |
12,606Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±2.3 12% above U.S. |
37.1±0.8Lowest 5% below U.S. |
44.1±3.5Highest 13% above U.S. |
| North Adams 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 U.S.: 22% |
22.4%±1.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.7%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 19.6%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.5%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.6%±2.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| North Adams and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 23.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
22.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±0.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
9.8%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $67,518±$8k 16% below U.S. |
$68,310±$4kHighest 15% below U.S. |
$47,500±$7kLowest 41% 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±$20k 9% below U.S. |
$325,500±$8kHighest about the U.S. average |
$195,900±$14kLowest 41% below U.S. |
| 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±$51 22% below U.S. |
$1,208±$39Highest 15% below U.S. |
$793±$113Lowest 44% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,150Highest 33% above U.S. |
$4,115 32% above U.S. |
$3,078Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.7%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
45.9%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
63.7%±11Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| North Adams and Gardner 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% |
13.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
18.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
50.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
51% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1954Highest 26 yrs older than U.S. |
1947 33 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 16% above U.S. |
26 min 3% below U.S. |
17 minLowest 34% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.3%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.2%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.2%±3.5Lowest 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 | #268 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Gardner | Blackstone Academy · Pawtucket | North Adams · Northern Berkshire Regional Vocational Technical |
| High school in town | Gardner High | William E. Tolman High | Charles McCann Vocational Technical |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5 |
14.6Highest |
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.