Compare towns
Gardner vs Ware 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%).
Ware has the most affordable homes ($253k median).
Ashburnham has the highest household income ($119k).
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 | Ware | Ashburnham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 21,148Highest |
6,369Lowest |
6,415 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+1.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+3.8% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±2.3Highest 9% above MA |
39.8±6Lowest about the MA average |
40.7±6.3 about the MA average |
| Gardner and Ashburnham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.3%±2.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.3%±4.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
22.6%±6 MA: 19.4% |
| Ware and Ashburnham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.6%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.4%±3.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
18.1%±4.5 MA: 17.9% |
| Gardner and Ashburnham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 23.8% MA: 47.3% |
15.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
44%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±2.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
| 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±$8k 35% below MA |
$45,158±$11kLowest 57% below MA |
$118,809±$11kHighest 14% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $301,600±$20k 46% below MA |
$253,400±$31kLowest 55% below MA |
$390,700±$34kHighest 30% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,109±$51 37% below MA |
$1,039±$104Lowest 41% below MA |
$1,807±$1kHighest about the MA average |
| Ashburnham and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,150 31% below MA |
$3,408Lowest 43% below MA |
$6,046Highest about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.7%±8.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
64.5%±17.3 MA: 51.8% |
100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Ashburnham and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 13.7% MA: 10% |
14.1%Highest MA: 10% |
6.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.9% MA: 62.5% |
57.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
96%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1954 10 yrs older than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 5% above MA |
27 minLowest 9% below MA |
32 minHighest 10% above MA |
| Work from home | 13.3%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
16.6%±5Highest MA: 18.6% |
16%±7.7 MA: 18.6% |
| Ware 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 | #267 of 282 in MA | #178 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Gardner | — | Ashburnham-Westminster |
| High school in town | Gardner High | — | 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.