Compare towns
Gardner vs Ware vs Ware vs South 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 the oldest population (median age 43.7).
Ware has the most people working from home (16.6%).
South Ashburnham has the highest household income ($126k).
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 | Ware | South Ashburnham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 21,148Highest |
6,369 |
10,048 |
1,500Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.2% MA: +7.4% |
+1.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2% MA: +7.4% |
+7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±2.3Highest 9% above MA |
39.8±6 about the MA average |
43.1±4.7 8% above MA |
38.1±10.4Lowest 5% below MA |
| Gardner and Ware 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% |
19.1%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
21.1%±8.2 MA: 19.4% |
| Ware and South Ashburnham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.6%±2.2 MA: 17.9% |
17.4%±3.9 MA: 17.9% |
20.6%±3.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
8.2%±4.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Ware 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% MA: 47.3% |
15.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
24% MA: 47.3% |
27.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
7.2%±5.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
| South 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 |
$67,475±$15k 35% below MA |
$126,071±$42kHighest 21% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $301,600±$20k 46% below MA |
$253,400±$31kLowest 55% below MA |
$289,700±$28k 48% below MA |
$370,300±$56kHighest 34% below MA |
| South Ashburnham and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,109±$51Highest 37% below MA |
$1,039±$104Lowest 41% below MA |
$1,043±$109 41% below MA |
— |
| Gardner and Ware 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 |
$4,237 29% below MA |
$4,896Highest 18% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.7%±8.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
64.5%±17.3 MA: 51.8% |
64.3%±16.2 MA: 51.8% |
100%±10.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Below poverty line | 13.7% MA: 10% |
14.1%Highest MA: 10% |
11.8% MA: 10% |
6.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.9% MA: 62.5% |
57.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
72.3% MA: 62.5% |
91.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1954 10 yrs older than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1960Highest 4 yrs older than MA |
1960Highest 4 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 5% above MA |
27 minLowest 9% below MA |
28 min about the MA average |
29 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 13.3%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
16.6%±5Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
14.7%±18.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Ware and South 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 | #267 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Gardner | — | Ware | — |
| High school in town | Gardner High | — | Ware Junior/Senior High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
— | 11.1Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.