Compare towns
Gardner vs Sterling vs Ashburnham
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%).
Sterling has the most expensive homes ($499k median).
Ashburnham has the most kids (22.6% under 18).
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 | Ashburnham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 21,148Highest |
8,183 |
6,415Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+3.8% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±2.3 9% above MA |
51.5±1.8Highest 29% above MA |
40.7±6.3Lowest about the MA average |
| Kids under 18 | 18.3%±2.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±4.1 MA: 19.4% |
22.6%±6Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Ashburnham and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.6%±2.2 MA: 17.9% |
22.9%±4Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.1%±4.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Sterling 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 MA: 47.3% |
48.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
44% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.8%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±2.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Ashburnham and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $67,518±$8kLowest 35% below MA |
$129,063±$27kHighest 24% above MA |
$118,809±$11k 14% above MA |
| Sterling and Ashburnham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $301,600±$20kLowest 46% below MA |
$498,800±$48kHighest 11% below MA |
$390,700±$34k 30% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,109±$51Lowest 37% below MA |
$1,699±$161 4% below MA |
$1,807±$1kHighest about the MA average |
| Ashburnham and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,150Lowest 31% below MA |
$6,757Highest 13% above MA |
$6,046 about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.7%±8.6 MA: 51.8% |
46%±23.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Ashburnham and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 13.7%Highest MA: 10% |
6%Lowest MA: 10% |
6.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.3% MA: 62.5% |
96%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1954Lowest 10 yrs older than MA |
1980 16 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minLowest 5% above MA |
34 minHighest 18% above MA |
32 min 10% above MA |
| Work from home | 13.3%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
18.3%±6.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
16%±7.7 MA: 18.6% |
| Sterling 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 | #135 of 282 in MA | #178 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Gardner | Wachusett | Ashburnham-Westminster |
| High school in town | Gardner High | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5 |
— | — |
| 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.