Compare towns
Gardner vs Pomfret vs Putnam vs Ashburnham
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 renters (41.1% rent).
Pomfret has the oldest population (median age 45.9).
Putnam has the most affordable homes ($269k median).
Ashburnham has the most people working from home (16%).
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 | Pomfret | Putnam | Ashburnham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 21,148Highest |
4,317Lowest |
9,292 |
6,415 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — | +3.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±2.3 12% above U.S. |
45.9±3.7Highest 18% above U.S. |
43.7±3 12% above U.S. |
40.7±6.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
| Pomfret and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.3%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.1%±4.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
22.6%±6 U.S.: 22% |
| Pomfret and Ashburnham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.6%±2.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.8%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.1%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Gardner and Putnam 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% |
50.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
20%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
44% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $67,518±$8kLowest 16% below U.S. |
$108,476±$8k 34% above U.S. |
$70,561±$7k 13% below U.S. |
$118,809±$11kHighest 47% above U.S. |
| Ashburnham and Pomfret 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. |
$409,100±$28kHighest 23% above U.S. |
$269,200±$11kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$390,700±$34k 17% above U.S. |
| Pomfret and Ashburnham 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. |
$1,210±$300 14% below U.S. |
$1,149±$44 19% below U.S. |
$1,807±$1kHighest 28% above U.S. |
| Ashburnham and Pomfret are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,150 33% above U.S. |
$5,903 89% above U.S. |
$3,860Lowest 24% above U.S. |
$6,046Highest 94% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.7%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
61.9%±15.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ashburnham and Pomfret 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% |
6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
96%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1954Lowest 26 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1961 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 16% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 11% below U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 21% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.3%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.2%±5.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16%±7.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #39 of 149 in CT | #128 of 149 in CT | #178 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Gardner | Pomfret School District | Putnam School District | Ashburnham-Westminster |
| High school in town | Gardner High | None in town | Putnam High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
— | 9.5Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.