Compare towns
Gardner vs Sutton vs Upton 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.7%).
Upton has the most expensive homes ($577k median).
Ashburnham has the youngest population (median age 40.7).
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 | Upton | Ashburnham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 21,148Highest |
2,239Lowest |
8,189 |
6,415 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±2.3 12% above U.S. |
48.1±4.1Highest 24% above U.S. |
46.4±4.8 19% above U.S. |
40.7±6.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
| Sutton and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.3%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±3.8 U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
22.6%±6 U.S.: 22% |
| Upton and Ashburnham 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% |
21.6%±5.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.1%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Sutton and Upton 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% |
44.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
53.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±3.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Ashburnham and Sutton 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. |
$130,313±$31k 61% above U.S. |
$155,508±$33kHighest 93% above U.S. |
$118,809±$11k 47% above U.S. |
| Upton and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $301,600±$20kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$362,600±$16k 9% above U.S. |
$576,700±$41kHighest 73% above U.S. |
$390,700±$34k 17% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,109±$51 22% below U.S. |
$1,656±$614 17% above U.S. |
$948±$599Lowest 33% 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 | $4,150Lowest 33% above U.S. |
$7,652 145% above U.S. |
$8,376Highest 169% above U.S. |
$6,046 94% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.7%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
27.6%±47.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31 U.S.: 51.1% |
100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ashburnham and Upton 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% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
96%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1954Lowest 26 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 16% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 11% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
32 min 21% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.3%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.8%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16%±7.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Upton 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 | — | #46 of 282 in MA | #178 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Gardner | Kearsarge Regional School District | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Ashburnham-Westminster |
| High school in town | Gardner High | Kearsarge Regional High School | Blackstone Valley | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
10.4Lowest |
11.2 |
— |
| 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.