What stands out worked out from the figures below

Milford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).

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	Milford	Gardner
People
Population	30,431Highest	21,148Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+8.5%Highest MA: +7.4%	+5.2%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	38.9±1.8Lowest about the MA average	43.7±2.3Highest 9% above MA
Kids under 18	20.7%±2.4Highest MA: 19.4%	18.3%±2.3Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Milford and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	18.8%±2Lowest MA: 17.9%	19.6%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9%
	Gardner and Milford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	35.3%Highest MA: 47.3%	23.8%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.9%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9%	4.6%±1.3Highest MA: 7.9%
	Gardner and Milford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$96,365±$4kHighest 7% below MA	$67,518±$8kLowest 35% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$476,700±$12kHighest 15% below MA	$301,600±$20kLowest 46% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,909±$137Highest 8% above MA	$1,109±$51Lowest 37% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,869Highest about the MA average	$4,150Lowest 31% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	56.8%±8.5Highest MA: 51.8%	49.7%±8.6Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Milford and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.6%Lowest MA: 10%	13.7%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	65.2%Highest MA: 62.5%	58.9%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1971Highest 7 yrs newer than MA	1954Lowest 10 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	37 minHighest 27% above MA	31 minLowest 5% above MA
Work from home	14.5%±2.2Highest MA: 18.6%	13.3%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Milford 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	#213 of 282 in MA	#273 of 282 in MA
School district	Milford	Gardner
High school in town	Milford High	Gardner High
Students per teacherat that high school	11.9Lowest	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.