Compare towns
Gardner vs Putnam vs Pomfret
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%).
Putnam has the most affordable homes ($245k median).
Pomfret has the highest household income ($108k).
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 | Putnam | Pomfret |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 21,148Highest |
7,120 |
4,317Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 43.7±2.3 12% above U.S. |
41.2±5.1Lowest 6% above U.S. |
45.9±3.7Highest 18% 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% |
18.9%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
23.1%±4.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Pomfret and Putnam 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%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.8%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Gardner and Pomfret 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% |
18.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
50.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Pomfret 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±$8k 16% below U.S. |
$65,511±$7kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$108,476±$8kHighest 34% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $301,600±$20k 9% below U.S. |
$245,100±$13kLowest 26% below U.S. |
$409,100±$28kHighest 23% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,109±$51Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,147±$43 19% below U.S. |
$1,210±$300Highest 14% below U.S. |
| Pomfret and Putnam 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. |
$3,564Lowest 14% above U.S. |
$5,903Highest 89% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.7%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
38.2%±12.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
61.9%±15.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Pomfret 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
11.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
50.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1954Lowest 26 yrs older than U.S. |
1956 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 16% above U.S. |
25 min 5% below U.S. |
24 minLowest 11% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.3%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.7%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.2%±5.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Gardner and Pomfret 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 | #128 of 149 in CT | #39 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Gardner | — | Pomfret School District |
| 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 |
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.