What stands out worked out from the figures below

Lenox has the highest household income ($106k).

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

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	Lenox	Gardner
People
Population	5,079Lowest	21,148Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+1.4%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+5.2%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	60.1±4.3Highest 50% above MA	43.7±2.3Lowest 9% above MA
Kids under 18	13.3%±4.1Lowest MA: 19.4%	18.3%±2.3Highest MA: 19.4%
	Gardner and Lenox are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	40.1%±7.8Highest MA: 17.9%	19.6%±2.2Lowest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	52.7%Highest MA: 47.3%	23.8%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 7.9%	4.6%±1.3Highest MA: 7.9%
	Gardner and Lenox are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$106,080±$31kHighest about the MA average	$67,518±$8kLowest 35% below MA
	Lenox and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$466,700±$43kHighest 17% below MA	$301,600±$20kLowest 46% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,091±$238Lowest 38% below MA	$1,109±$51Highest 37% below MA
	Gardner and Lenox are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,299Highest 12% below MA	$4,150Lowest 31% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	47.2%±18.8Lowest MA: 51.8%	49.7%±8.6Highest MA: 51.8%
	Gardner and Lenox are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.5%Lowest MA: 10%	13.7%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	71.4%Highest MA: 62.5%	58.9%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1966Highest 2 yrs newer than MA	1954Lowest 10 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	23 minLowest 22% below MA	31 minHighest 5% above MA
Work from home	18.3%±8.8Highest MA: 18.6%	13.3%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Lenox 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	#90 of 282 in MA	#273 of 282 in MA
School district	Lenox	Gardner
High school in town	Lenox Memorial High	Gardner High
Students per teacherat that high school	7.6Lowest	13.5Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.