Compare towns
Gardner vs Peru vs Ashburnham
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).
Peru has the oldest population (median age 52.6).
Ashburnham has the highest household income ($119k).
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 | Peru | Ashburnham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 21,148Highest |
630Lowest |
6,415 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-3.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+3.8% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±2.3 9% above MA |
52.6±4.8Highest 32% above MA |
40.7±6.3Lowest about the MA average |
| Kids under 18 | 18.3%±2.3 MA: 19.4% |
16.3%±3.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.6%±6Highest MA: 19.4% |
| 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 MA: 17.9% |
29.7%±6.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.1%±4.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 23.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
28% MA: 47.3% |
44%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
3.2%±2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±2.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
| 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 35% below MA |
$90,750±$18k 13% below MA |
$118,809±$11kHighest 14% above MA |
| Ashburnham and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $301,600±$20k 46% below MA |
$267,400±$15kLowest 52% below MA |
$390,700±$34kHighest 30% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,109±$51Lowest 37% below MA |
— | $1,807±$1kHighest about the MA average |
| Ashburnham 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 |
$3,805Lowest 36% below MA |
$6,046Highest about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.7%±8.6 MA: 51.8% |
0%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Ashburnham and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 13.7%Highest MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
6.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
98.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
96% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1954Lowest 10 yrs older than MA |
1983Highest 19 yrs newer than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minLowest 5% above MA |
31 min 7% above MA |
32 minHighest 10% above MA |
| Work from home | 13.3%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
10.3%±4.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
16%±7.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Ashburnham 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 | — | #178 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Gardner | — | Ashburnham-Westminster |
| High school in town | Gardner High | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.