Compare towns
Gardner vs Sutton vs Thompson vs Ashburnham
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 renters (41.1% rent).
Sutton has the most people working from home (22.7%).
Thompson has the oldest population (median age 54.1).
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 | Sutton | Thompson | Ashburnham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 21,148Highest |
9,452 |
9,337 |
6,415Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +3.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±2.3 12% above U.S. |
44.3±2.5 14% above U.S. |
54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S. |
40.7±6.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 18.3%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.6%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Ashburnham and Sutton 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% |
18.8%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.1%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Thompson 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% |
52.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
21.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
44% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Ashburnham and Gardner 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 16% below U.S. |
$147,125±$25kHighest 82% above U.S. |
$93,629±$18k 16% above U.S. |
$118,809±$11k 47% above U.S. |
| Sutton 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±$20k 9% below U.S. |
$523,100±$47kHighest 57% above U.S. |
$291,900±$24kLowest 12% below U.S. |
$390,700±$34k 17% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,109±$51 22% below U.S. |
$1,190±$401 16% below U.S. |
$1,012±$344Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,807±$1kHighest 28% above U.S. |
| Ashburnham and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,150 33% above U.S. |
$6,763Highest 117% above U.S. |
$3,822Lowest 23% above U.S. |
$6,046 94% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.7%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
47.5%±24.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54%±18.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ashburnham and Thompson 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% |
5.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
96%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1954Lowest 26 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 16% above U.S. |
30 minLowest 12% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 21% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.3%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16%±7.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sutton 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 | #105 of 282 in MA | #130 of 149 in CT | #178 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Gardner | Sutton | Thompson School District | Ashburnham-Westminster |
| High school in town | Gardner High | Sutton High School | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
12.6 |
7.9Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.