What stands out worked out from the figures below

Gardner has the most people working from home (13.3%).

West Warwick has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.2%).

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	West Warwick
People
Population	21,148Lowest	31,173Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+6.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	43.7±2.3Highest 12% above U.S.	42.8±1.5Lowest 10% above U.S.
	Gardner and West Warwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18.3%±2.3Highest U.S.: 22%	15.7%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Gardner and West Warwick 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%	20%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	West Warwick 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	26.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.6%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	5.7%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	West Warwick 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±$8kLowest 16% below U.S.	$77,608±$7kHighest 4% below U.S.
	West Warwick and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$301,600±$20kLowest 9% below U.S.	$330,800±$12kHighest about the U.S. average
	West Warwick and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,109±$51Lowest 22% below U.S.	$1,303±$74Highest 8% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,150Lowest 33% above U.S.	$4,962Highest 59% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	49.7%±8.6Highest U.S.: 51.1%	43.5%±7.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Gardner and West Warwick 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%	9.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	58.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	57%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1954Lowest 26 yrs older than U.S.	1968Highest 12 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minHighest 16% above U.S.	25 minLowest 5% below U.S.
Work from home	13.3%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1%	7.2%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#273 of 282 in MA	#33 of 38 in RI
School district	Gardner	West Warwick
High school in town	Gardner High	West Warwick High School
Students per teacherat that high school	13.5Highest	13.0Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.