Compare towns
Leicester vs Gardner vs Carver
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Leicester has the highest household income ($105k).
Gardner has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.2%).
Carver has the most expensive homes ($434k 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.
| Measure | Leicester | Gardner | Carver |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,113Lowest |
21,148Highest |
11,712 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+5.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+1.2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.4±3.5Lowest 6% above MA |
43.7±2.3 9% above MA |
45.9±3.5Highest 15% above MA |
| Carver and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.2%±3.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.3%±2.3 MA: 19.4% |
16.9%±2.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Leicester and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.9%±3.4Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.6%±2.2 MA: 17.9% |
23%±3.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Carver and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31%Highest MA: 47.3% |
23.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
28.9% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.3%±1.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
4%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Leicester and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $105,173±$9kHighest about the MA average |
$67,518±$8kLowest 35% below MA |
$91,250±$23k 12% below MA |
| Leicester and Carver are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $413,100±$23k 27% below MA |
$301,600±$20kLowest 46% below MA |
$434,200±$21kHighest 23% below MA |
| Carver and Leicester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,487±$258 16% below MA |
$1,109±$51Lowest 37% below MA |
$1,827±$345Highest 4% above MA |
| Carver and Leicester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,452 26% below MA |
$4,150Lowest 31% below MA |
$6,455Highest 8% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29.7%±14.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
49.7%±8.6 MA: 51.8% |
55%±23.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Carver and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
13.7%Highest MA: 10% |
7.5% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.5% MA: 62.5% |
58.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
88.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965 1 yr newer than MA |
1954Lowest 10 yrs older than MA |
1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 6% below MA |
31 min 5% above MA |
33 minHighest 13% above MA |
| Work from home | 13.1%±4.1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
13.3%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
13.9%±4Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Carver 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 | #222 of 282 in MA | #273 of 282 in MA | #237 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Leicester | Gardner | Carver |
| High school in town | Leicester High | Gardner High | Carver Middle/High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7 |
13.5Highest |
9.7Lowest |
| 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.