What stands out worked out from the figures below

Lunenburg has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.8%).

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	Lunenburg	Gardner
People
Population	11,902Lowest	21,148Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+16.8%Highest MA: +7.4%	+5.2%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	43.2±2.1Lowest 8% above MA	43.7±2.3Highest 9% above MA
	Gardner and Lunenburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21.1%±3Highest MA: 19.4%	18.3%±2.3Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Lunenburg and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	17.9%±2.7Lowest MA: 17.9%	19.6%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9%
	Gardner and Lunenburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	44%Highest MA: 47.3%	23.8%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.2%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9%	4.6%±1.3Highest MA: 7.9%
	Gardner and Lunenburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$112,828±$11kHighest 9% above MA	$67,518±$8kLowest 35% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$463,900±$24kHighest 17% below MA	$301,600±$20kLowest 46% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,974±$586Highest 12% above MA	$1,109±$51Lowest 37% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,401Highest 7% above MA	$4,150Lowest 31% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	45.8%±13.5Lowest MA: 51.8%	49.7%±8.6Highest MA: 51.8%
	Gardner and Lunenburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.2%Lowest MA: 10%	13.7%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	80.7%Highest MA: 62.5%	58.9%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1972Highest 8 yrs newer than MA	1954Lowest 10 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	36 minHighest 24% above MA	31 minLowest 5% above MA
Work from home	15.8%±3.5Highest MA: 18.6%	13.3%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Lunenburg 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	#87 of 282 in MA	#273 of 282 in MA
School district	Lunenburg	Gardner
High school in town	Lunenburg High	Gardner High
Students per teacherat that high school	12.4Lowest	13.5Highest
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.