What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Winchendon has the most homeowners (76.6%).

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	Winchendon
People
Population	21,148Highest	10,440Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.2%Highest MA: +7.4%	+0.6%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	43.7±2.3Highest 9% above MA	39.6±1.9Lowest about the MA average
	Gardner and Winchendon 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%	21.8%±3.9Highest MA: 19.4%
	Winchendon 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%	16.9%±2.7Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Gardner and Winchendon 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%	21.4%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.6%±1.3Highest MA: 7.9%	4.5%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Gardner and Winchendon 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 35% below MA	$75,690±$14kHighest 27% below MA
	Winchendon 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 46% below MA	$323,800±$19kHighest 42% below MA
	Winchendon 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 37% below MA	$1,255±$163Highest 29% below MA
	Winchendon and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,150Highest 31% below MA	$3,780Lowest 37% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	49.7%±8.6Lowest MA: 51.8%	61.7%±17.6Highest MA: 51.8%
	Winchendon and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	13.7%Lowest MA: 10%	18.5%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	58.9%Lowest MA: 62.5%	76.6%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1954Lowest 10 yrs older than MA	1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minLowest 5% above MA	32 minHighest 11% above MA
Work from home	13.3%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6%	11.2%±3.1Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Gardner and Winchendon 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	#269 of 282 in MA
School district	Gardner	Winchendon
High school in town	Gardner High	Murdock High School
Students per teacherat that high school	13.5Highest	11.3Lowest
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.