Compare towns
Gardner vs Warren vs Plainville
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 people working from home (13.3%).
Warren has the most kids (20.8% under 18).
Plainville has the shortest commute (21 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 | Warren | Plainville |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 21,148Highest |
5,009Lowest |
17,551 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 43.7±2.3 12% above U.S. |
38.7±7.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
44.3±1.5Highest 14% above U.S. |
| Plainville and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.3%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
20.8%±8Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Warren and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.6%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.6%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.1%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Plainville 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
23.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
30%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Plainville 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 16% below U.S. |
$66,082±$6kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$84,343±$7kHighest 4% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $301,600±$20k 9% below U.S. |
$333,700±$35kHighest about the U.S. average |
$254,000±$14kLowest 24% below U.S. |
| 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±$51 22% below U.S. |
$890±$174Lowest 37% below U.S. |
$1,126±$147Highest 20% below U.S. |
| Plainville and Gardner 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. |
$4,530 45% above U.S. |
$4,798Highest 54% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.7%±8.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
29.7%±18.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
40.3%±12.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Gardner and Plainville 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% |
9% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
64.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
67.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1954Lowest 26 yrs older than U.S. |
1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 16% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 20% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.3%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.5%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.7%±2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Gardner and Plainville 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 | #89 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Gardner | Quaboag Regional | Judicial Centers · Plainville School District |
| High school in town | Gardner High | Quaboag Regional High | Plainville High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
10.0Lowest |
11.4 |
| 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.