Compare towns
Gardner vs Ripton vs West Springfield Town
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%).
West Springfield Town has the shortest commute (19 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 | Ripton | West Springfield Town |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 21,148 |
508Lowest |
28,772Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+25.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±2.3 12% above U.S. |
47.7±14.2Highest 23% above U.S. |
40.1±2.6Lowest 3% above U.S. |
| Ripton and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.3%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±2.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| West Springfield Town 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% |
17.5%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 23.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
48%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34% 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% |
5.7%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $67,518±$8kLowest 16% below U.S. |
$112,917±$15kHighest 40% above U.S. |
$69,371±$7k 14% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $301,600±$20kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$394,400±$61kHighest 19% above U.S. |
$321,500±$16k 3% below U.S. |
| Ripton and West Springfield Town 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. |
— | $1,144±$68Highest 19% below U.S. |
| West Springfield Town 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. |
$4,915Highest 58% above U.S. |
$4,380 40% 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% |
60.1%±9.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| West Springfield Town 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%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
58.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1954Lowest 26 yrs older than U.S. |
1973Highest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1958 22 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 16% above U.S. |
24 min 9% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.3%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±8.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.4%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ripton 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 | — | #218 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Gardner | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | West Springfield |
| High school in town | Gardner High | None in town | West Springfield High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
— | 13.1Lowest |
| 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.