Compare towns
Gardner vs Thompson 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 kids (18.3% under 18).
Thompson has the most homeowners (84.3%).
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 | Thompson | North Adams |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 21,148Highest |
9,337Lowest |
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±2.3Lowest 12% above U.S. |
54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S. |
44.1±3.5 13% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 18.3%±2.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.7%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Gardner and North Adams 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% |
24.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.6%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Thompson 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
21.9%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% |
2.9%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
9.8%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $67,518±$8k 16% below U.S. |
$93,629±$18kHighest 16% above U.S. |
$47,500±$7kLowest 41% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $301,600±$20kHighest 9% below U.S. |
$291,900±$24k 12% below U.S. |
$195,900±$14kLowest 41% below U.S. |
| Gardner and Thompson 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. |
$1,012±$344 28% below U.S. |
$793±$113Lowest 44% below U.S. |
| Gardner and Thompson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,150Highest 33% above U.S. |
$3,822 23% above U.S. |
$3,078Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.7%±8.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54%±18.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
63.7%±11Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| North Adams and Thompson 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% |
5.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
18.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
51%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1954 26 yrs older than U.S. |
1963Highest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 16% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
17 minLowest 34% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.3%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.2%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Gardner and Thompson 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 | #130 of 149 in CT | #268 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Gardner | Thompson School District | North Adams · Northern Berkshire Regional Vocational Technical |
| High school in town | Gardner High | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | Charles McCann Vocational Technical |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
7.9Lowest |
10.6 |
| 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.