Compare towns
Gardner vs Sterling 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 the most people working from home (13.3%).
Sterling has the highest household income ($103k).
North Adams has the shortest commute (17 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 | Sterling | North Adams |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 21,148Highest |
3,629Lowest |
12,606 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -5.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±2.3 12% above U.S. |
39.4±5.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
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%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
22.8%±5.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.7%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Sterling 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% |
13%±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% U.S.: 35.7% |
18%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
9.8%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $67,518±$8k 16% below U.S. |
$102,695±$12kHighest 27% above U.S. |
$47,500±$7kLowest 41% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $301,600±$20kHighest 9% below U.S. |
$283,400±$17k 15% below U.S. |
$195,900±$14kLowest 41% below U.S. |
| Gardner and Sterling 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. |
— | $793±$113Lowest 44% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,150 33% above U.S. |
$4,551Highest 46% above U.S. |
$3,078Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.7%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
32%±18.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
63.7%±11Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| North Adams and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 13.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
18.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
81.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
51%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1954 26 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 16% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
17 minLowest 34% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.3%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.6%±6.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.2%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Gardner and Sterling 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 | #119 of 149 in CT | #268 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Gardner | Sterling School District | 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 | 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.