Compare towns
Gardner vs Surry 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 youngest population (median age 43.7).
Surry has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12%).
North Adams has the most affordable homes ($196k 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 | Surry | North Adams |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 21,148Highest |
1,052Lowest |
12,606 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+12%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±2.3Lowest 12% above U.S. |
44.7±5.1Highest 15% above U.S. |
44.1±3.5 13% above U.S. |
| Surry and North Adams 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% |
20.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.7%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Surry and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.6%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.3%±7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.6%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Surry and North Adams 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% |
31.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.6%±6.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
9.8%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| North Adams and Surry 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 16% below U.S. |
$110,125±$25kHighest 36% above U.S. |
$47,500±$7kLowest 41% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $301,600±$20k 9% below U.S. |
$331,400±$23kHighest about the U.S. average |
$195,900±$14kLowest 41% below U.S. |
| Surry and Gardner 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. |
$1,955±$374Highest 38% above U.S. |
$793±$113Lowest 44% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,150 33% above U.S. |
$6,384Highest 105% 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% |
33.3%±74.3Lowest 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% |
3.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
18.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
91.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
51%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1954 26 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 16% above U.S. |
22 min 17% below U.S. |
17 minLowest 34% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.3%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
16%±7.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.2%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Surry 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 | — | #268 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Gardner | — | North Adams · Northern Berkshire Regional Vocational Technical |
| High school in town | Gardner High | — | Charles McCann Vocational Technical |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
— | 10.6Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 1 photos → |
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.