Compare towns
Gardner vs Springfield vs West Springfield Town
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Gardner has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.2%).
Springfield has the most kids (24.2% under 18).
West Springfield Town has the most expensive homes ($322k 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 | Springfield | West Springfield Town |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 21,148Lowest |
154,749Highest |
28,772 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+1.9% MA: +7.4% |
+1.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±2.3Highest 9% above MA |
33.7±0.5Lowest 16% below MA |
40.1±2.6 about the MA average |
| Gardner and West Springfield Town are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.3%±2.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
24.2%±0.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.9%±2.3 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 19.6%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
13.2%±0.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
17.5%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
| Gardner and West Springfield Town are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 23.8% MA: 47.3% |
20.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
34%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
7.5%±0.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.7%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
| Springfield and West Springfield Town 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 35% below MA |
$52,656±$2kLowest 49% below MA |
$69,371±$7kHighest 33% below MA |
| West Springfield Town 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±$20k 46% below MA |
$245,000±$4kLowest 56% below MA |
$321,500±$16kHighest 43% below MA |
| West Springfield Town and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,109±$51Lowest 37% below MA |
$1,144±$55Highest 35% below MA |
$1,144±$68Highest 35% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,150 31% below MA |
$3,695Lowest 38% below MA |
$4,380Highest 27% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.7%±8.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
57.7%±3.1 MA: 51.8% |
60.1%±9.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
| West Springfield Town and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 13.7% MA: 10% |
25.8%Highest MA: 10% |
11.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
49.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
58.5% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1954 10 yrs older than MA |
1952Lowest 12 yrs older than MA |
1958Highest 6 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 5% above MA |
20 min 31% below MA |
19 minLowest 34% below MA |
| Work from home | 13.3%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
8.4%±0.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
10.4%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
| Gardner and West Springfield Town 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 | #276 of 282 in MA | #218 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Gardner | Springfield | West Springfield |
| High school in town | Gardner High | Springfield Central High | West Springfield High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
12.2Lowest |
13.1 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
MA 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.