Compare towns
Gardner vs Worcester vs 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 most affordable homes ($302k median).
Worcester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.1%).
Ashburnham has the highest household income ($119k).
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 | Worcester | Ashburnham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 21,148 |
207,055Highest |
6,415Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.2% MA: +7.4% |
+14.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±2.3Highest 9% above MA |
33.9±0.5Lowest 15% below MA |
40.7±6.3 about the MA average |
| Gardner and Ashburnham 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% |
19.6%±0.8 MA: 19.4% |
22.6%±6Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Ashburnham and Worcester 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% |
13.3%±0.6Lowest MA: 17.9% |
18.1%±4.5 MA: 17.9% |
| Gardner and Ashburnham 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 MA: 47.3% |
35.2% MA: 47.3% |
44%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
14.1%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $67,518±$8kLowest 35% below MA |
$70,102±$2k 33% below MA |
$118,809±$11kHighest 14% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $301,600±$20kLowest 46% below MA |
$374,400±$7k 33% below MA |
$390,700±$34kHighest 30% below MA |
| Ashburnham and Worcester 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 |
$1,487±$38 16% below MA |
$1,807±$1kHighest about the MA average |
| Ashburnham and Worcester 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 |
$4,733 21% below MA |
$6,046Highest about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.7%±8.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
54.2%±2.9 MA: 51.8% |
100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Ashburnham and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 13.7% MA: 10% |
19.6%Highest MA: 10% |
6.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.9% MA: 62.5% |
42.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
96%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1954 10 yrs older than MA |
1951Lowest 13 yrs older than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 5% above MA |
24 minLowest 17% below MA |
32 minHighest 10% above MA |
| Work from home | 13.3%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
11.5%±1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
16%±7.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Ashburnham and Gardner 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 | #266 of 282 in MA | #178 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Gardner | Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester | Ashburnham-Westminster |
| High school in town | Gardner High | South High Community | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Lowest |
14.6Highest |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.