What stands out worked out from the figures below

North Brookfield has the most expensive homes ($359k median).

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	North Brookfield	Gardner
People
Population	4,760Lowest	21,148Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+1.2%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+5.2%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	45.2±9.4Highest 13% above MA	43.7±2.3Lowest 9% above MA
	North Brookfield and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	16.9%±4.2Lowest MA: 19.4%	18.3%±2.3Highest MA: 19.4%
	Gardner and North Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	18.7%±5Lowest MA: 17.9%	19.6%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9%
	Gardner and North Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	26.3%Highest MA: 47.3%	23.8%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.5%±2.3Lowest MA: 7.9%	4.6%±1.3Highest MA: 7.9%
	Gardner and North Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$79,285±$11kHighest 24% below MA	$67,518±$8kLowest 35% below MA
	North Brookfield and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$359,100±$32kHighest 36% below MA	$301,600±$20kLowest 46% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$981±$63Lowest 44% below MA	$1,109±$51Highest 37% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,176Highest 30% below MA	$4,150Lowest 31% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	52.4%±15.8Highest MA: 51.8%	49.7%±8.6Lowest MA: 51.8%
	North Brookfield and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	12.9%Lowest MA: 10%	13.7%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	69.3%Highest MA: 62.5%	58.9%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1953Lowest 11 yrs older than MA	1954Highest 10 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	37 minHighest 28% above MA	31 minLowest 5% above MA
Work from home	13.1%±4.4Lowest MA: 18.6%	13.3%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6%
	Gardner and North Brookfield 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	#270 of 282 in MA	#273 of 282 in MA
School district	North Brookfield	Gardner
High school in town	North Brookfield High	Gardner High
Students per teacherat that high school	5.5Lowest	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.