What stands out worked out from the figures below

Holbrook has the highest household income ($115k).

Gardner has the most affordable homes ($302k median).

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	Holbrook	Gardner
People
Population	11,380Lowest	21,148Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.7%Highest MA: +7.4%	+5.2%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	42.8±3.2Lowest 7% above MA	43.7±2.3Highest 9% above MA
	Gardner and Holbrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21.2%±4.4Highest MA: 19.4%	18.3%±2.3Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Holbrook and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19.1%±3.2Lowest MA: 17.9%	19.6%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9%
	Gardner and Holbrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	34.6%Highest MA: 47.3%	23.8%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.1%±2.1Highest MA: 7.9%	4.6%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Holbrook and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$115,210±$14kHighest 11% above MA	$67,518±$8kLowest 35% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$465,400±$21kHighest 17% below MA	$301,600±$20kLowest 46% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,094±$423Lowest 38% below MA	$1,109±$51Highest 37% below MA
	Gardner and Holbrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,105Highest about the MA average	$4,150Lowest 31% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	47.8%±18.7Lowest MA: 51.8%	49.7%±8.6Highest MA: 51.8%
	Gardner and Holbrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.7%Lowest MA: 10%	13.7%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	84%Highest MA: 62.5%	58.9%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1957Highest 7 yrs older than MA	1954Lowest 10 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	38 minHighest 30% above MA	31 minLowest 5% above MA
Work from home	12.1%±3.3Lowest MA: 18.6%	13.3%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6%
	Gardner and Holbrook 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	#234 of 282 in MA	#273 of 282 in MA
School district	Holbrook	Gardner
High school in town	Holbrook Middle High School	Gardner High
Students per teacherat that high school	14.3Highest	13.5Lowest
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.