What stands out worked out from the figures below

Quinebaug has the most people working from home (23.3%).

Gardner has the most kids (18.3% under 18).

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	Quinebaug	Gardner
People
Population	1,193Lowest	21,148Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-1.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+5.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	56.5±1Highest 45% above U.S.	43.7±2.3Lowest 12% above U.S.
Kids under 18	0%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22%	18.3%±2.3Highest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	29.1%±9.8Highest U.S.: 17.2%	19.6%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Quinebaug and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	10.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	23.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.3%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	4.6%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Gardner and Quinebaug are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$105,181±$36kHighest 30% above U.S.	$67,518±$8kLowest 16% below U.S.
	Quinebaug and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$237,800±$66kLowest 29% below U.S.	$301,600±$20kHighest 9% below U.S.
	Gardner and Quinebaug are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	—	$1,109±$51 22% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,703Lowest 19% above U.S.	$4,150Highest 33% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	49.7%±8.6Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Gardner and Quinebaug are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	1.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	13.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	97%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	58.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1960Highest 20 yrs older 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	23.3%±17.9Highest U.S.: 15.1%	13.3%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Quinebaug 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
School district	—	Gardner
High school 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.