Compare towns
Pascoag vs Gardner vs Exeter
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Pascoag has the highest household income ($121k).
Gardner has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.2%).
Exeter has the most expensive homes ($509k 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.
| Measure | Pascoag | Gardner | Exeter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,410Lowest |
21,148Highest |
7,195 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.1±3.7 about the U.S. average |
43.7±2.3Highest 12% above U.S. |
37.7±5.9Lowest 3% below U.S. |
| Gardner and Pascoag are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.7%±6.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.3%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.7%±4.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 21%±5.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.6%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Pascoag and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 26.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
23.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.9%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
11.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $121,369±$34kHighest 50% above U.S. |
$67,518±$8kLowest 16% below U.S. |
$111,250±$30k 38% above U.S. |
| Pascoag and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $365,000±$47k 10% above U.S. |
$301,600±$20kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$509,200±$43kHighest 53% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,319±$444Highest 7% below U.S. |
$1,109±$51Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,317±$307 7% below U.S. |
| Pascoag and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,395 41% above U.S. |
$4,150Lowest 33% above U.S. |
$5,881Highest 89% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.1%±27.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
49.7%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
91%±26.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 11.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
13.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
58.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1953Lowest 27 yrs older than U.S. |
1954 26 yrs older than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
31 min 16% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 15% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 7.4%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±6.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Exeter 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 | — | #273 of 282 in MA | #14 of 38 in RI |
| School district | — | Gardner | Exeter-West Greenwich |
| High school in town | — | Gardner High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.5 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.