What stands out worked out from the figures below

Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).

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	Newfields	Gardner
People
Population	2,023Lowest	21,148Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+5.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	44.1±1.8Highest 13% above U.S.	43.7±2.3Lowest 12% above U.S.
	Newfields and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 22%	18.3%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Newfields and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	13.6%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	19.6%±2.2Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	68.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	23.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	7.5%±7.2Highest U.S.: 6.4%	4.6%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Newfields and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$197,885±$15kHighest 145% above U.S.	$67,518±$8kLowest 16% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$646,400±$34kHighest 94% above U.S.	$301,600±$20kLowest 9% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,875±$323Highest 33% above U.S.	$1,109±$51Lowest 22% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S.	$4,150Lowest 33% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	43.3%±40.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	49.7%±8.6Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Gardner and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	13.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	95.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	58.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S.	1954Lowest 26 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minLowest about the U.S. average	31 minHighest 16% above U.S.
Work from home	25.5%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%	13.3%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	—	#273 of 282 in MA
School district	Newfields School District	Gardner
High school in town	None in town	Gardner High
Students per teacherat that high school	—	13.5
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

U.S. 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.