Compare towns
Gardner vs Putney 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.2%).
Putney has the most people working from home (16.9%).
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 | Putney | North Adams |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 21,148Highest |
2,622Lowest |
12,606 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±2.3 12% above U.S. |
37.2±5.2Lowest 4% 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%±2.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.4%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.7%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Gardner and North Adams are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.6%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
20.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
9.8%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $67,518±$8k 16% below U.S. |
$79,706±$18kHighest about the U.S. average |
$47,500±$7kLowest 41% below U.S. |
| Putney 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 9% below U.S. |
$300,000±$44k 10% below U.S. |
$195,900±$14kLowest 41% below U.S. |
| Gardner and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,109±$51Highest 22% below U.S. |
$508±$482Lowest 64% below U.S. |
$793±$113 44% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,150 33% above U.S. |
$5,313Highest 70% above U.S. |
$3,078Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.7%±8.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.2%±19.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
63.7%±11Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| North Adams and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 13.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
16% U.S.: 12.5% |
18.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
51%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1954 26 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 16% above U.S. |
18 min 32% below U.S. |
17 minLowest 34% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.3%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.9%±6.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.2%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Putney 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 | #32 of 70 in VT | #268 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Gardner | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | North Adams · Northern Berkshire Regional Vocational Technical |
| High school in town | Gardner High | None in town | Charles McCann Vocational Technical |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
— | 10.6Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.