Compare towns
Gardner vs Peru vs North Adams
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Gardner has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.2%).
Peru has the most homeowners (98.2%).
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 | Peru | North Adams |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 21,148Highest |
630Lowest |
12,606 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-3.9% MA: +7.4% |
-5.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±2.3Lowest 9% above MA |
52.6±4.8Highest 32% above MA |
44.1±3.5 10% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 18.3%±2.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
16.3%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
15.7%±2.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Gardner and Peru 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% |
29.7%±6.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
21.6%±2.6 MA: 17.9% |
| Peru 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 MA: 47.3% |
28% MA: 47.3% |
28.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
3.2%±2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
9.8%±2Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $67,518±$8k 35% below MA |
$90,750±$18kHighest 13% below MA |
$47,500±$7kLowest 54% below MA |
| Peru 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±$20kHighest 46% below MA |
$267,400±$15k 52% below MA |
$195,900±$14kLowest 65% below MA |
| Gardner and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,109±$51Highest 37% below MA |
— | $793±$113Lowest 55% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,150Highest 31% below MA |
$3,805 36% below MA |
$3,078Lowest 49% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.7%±8.6 MA: 51.8% |
0%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
63.7%±11Highest MA: 51.8% |
| 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% MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
18.6%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.9% MA: 62.5% |
98.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
51%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1954 10 yrs older than MA |
1983Highest 19 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 5% above MA |
31 minHighest 7% above MA |
17 minLowest 40% below MA |
| Work from home | 13.3%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.3%±4.8 MA: 18.6% |
9.2%±3.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Gardner and Peru 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 | — | #268 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Gardner | — | North Adams · Northern Berkshire Regional Vocational Technical |
| High school in town | Gardner High | — | 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 |
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.