What stands out worked out from the figures below

Gardner has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.2%).

Warren has the most kids (20.8% 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Gardner	Warren
People
Population	21,148Highest	5,009Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.2%Highest MA: +7.4%	-3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	43.7±2.3Highest 9% above MA	38.7±7.3Lowest 3% below MA
	Gardner and Warren 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%	20.8%±8Highest MA: 19.4%
	Warren and Gardner 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%	14.6%±4.5Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Gardner and Warren are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	23.8%Highest MA: 47.3%	23.2%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.6%±1.3Highest MA: 7.9%	2.9%±2.1Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Gardner and Warren are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$67,518±$8kHighest 35% below MA	$66,082±$6kLowest 36% below MA
	Gardner and Warren are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$301,600±$20kLowest 46% below MA	$333,700±$35kHighest 41% below MA
	Warren 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	$890±$174Lowest 49% below MA
	Gardner and Warren are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,150Lowest 31% below MA	$4,530Highest 24% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	49.7%±8.6Highest MA: 51.8%	29.7%±18.4Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Gardner and Warren are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	13.7%Highest MA: 10%	9%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	58.9%Lowest MA: 62.5%	64.5%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1954Lowest 10 yrs older than MA	1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minLowest 5% above MA	33 minHighest 13% above MA
Work from home	13.3%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6%	8.5%±5.4Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Gardner and Warren 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	#165 of 282 in MA
School district	Gardner	Quaboag Regional
High school in town	Gardner High	Quaboag Regional High
Students per teacherat that high school	13.5Highest	10.0Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.