Compare towns
Pelham vs Gardner vs Amherst Town
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Pelham has the highest household income ($114k).
Gardner has the most affordable homes ($302k median).
Amherst Town has the youngest population (median age 21.4).
Amherst Town is a college town. 59.6% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Pelham | Gardner | Amherst Town |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,335Lowest |
21,148 |
38,182Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+5.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 45±8.4Highest 13% above MA |
43.7±2.3 9% above MA |
21.4±0.2Lowest 47% below MA |
| Pelham and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21%±4.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.3%±2.3 MA: 19.4% |
7.5%±1.1Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Pelham and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.7%±6.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.6%±2.2 MA: 17.9% |
10.1%±1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Pelham and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 64.8% MA: 47.3% |
23.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
75.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
59.6%±2.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $113,750±$24kHighest 9% above MA |
$67,518±$8k 35% below MA |
$66,968±$7kLowest 36% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $447,600±$33k 20% below MA |
$301,600±$20kLowest 46% below MA |
$484,900±$21kHighest 14% below MA |
| Amherst Town and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,205±$560 32% below MA |
$1,109±$51Lowest 37% below MA |
$1,671±$93Highest 5% below MA |
| Amherst Town and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,472 25% above MA |
$4,150Lowest 31% below MA |
$8,787Highest 47% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.7%±35.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
49.7%±8.6 MA: 51.8% |
68.1%±8.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Below poverty line | 10.3%Lowest MA: 10% |
13.7% MA: 10% |
23.7%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
58.9% MA: 62.5% |
44.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1958 6 yrs older than MA |
1954Lowest 10 yrs older than MA |
1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 21% below MA |
31 minHighest 5% above MA |
18 minLowest 38% below MA |
| Work from home | 32.8%±7.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
13.3%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
21%±2.6 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #273 of 282 in MA | #58 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Pelham | Gardner | Amherst · Amherst-Pelham |
| High school in town | None in town | Gardner High | Amherst Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.5Highest |
11.3Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.