Compare towns
Gardner vs Ripton vs Ashburnham vs Spencer
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 affordable homes ($302k median).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Ashburnham has the most kids (22.6% under 18).
Spencer has the oldest population (median age 48.9).
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 | Ripton | Ashburnham | Spencer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 21,148Highest |
508Lowest |
6,415 |
12,008 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+25.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±2.3 12% above U.S. |
47.7±14.2 23% above U.S. |
40.7±6.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
48.9±6.8Highest 26% above U.S. |
| Spencer and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.3%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.6%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.4%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.5%±7.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.1%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26%±4.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ripton and Spencer 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44% U.S.: 35.7% |
29.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
20.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $67,518±$8kLowest 16% below U.S. |
$112,917±$15k 40% above U.S. |
$118,809±$11kHighest 47% above U.S. |
$80,533±$11k about the U.S. average |
| Ashburnham and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $301,600±$20kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$394,400±$61kHighest 19% above U.S. |
$390,700±$34k 17% above U.S. |
$382,000±$22k 15% above U.S. |
| Ripton and Ashburnham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,109±$51 22% below U.S. |
— | $1,807±$1kHighest 28% above U.S. |
$1,078±$161Lowest 24% below U.S. |
| Ashburnham and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,150Lowest 33% above U.S. |
$4,915 58% above U.S. |
$6,046Highest 94% above U.S. |
$4,387 41% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.7%±8.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.9%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±10.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ashburnham and Ripton 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% |
8.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
96%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
63% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1954Lowest 26 yrs older than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 16% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
32 min 21% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.3%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±8.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16%±7.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
15%±7.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ripton and Ashburnham 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 | #261 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Gardner | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Ashburnham-Westminster | Spencer-E Brookfield |
| High school in town | Gardner High | None in town | None in town | David Prouty High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
— | — | 9.9Lowest |
| 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.