Compare towns
Stoddard vs Gardner vs Marlow
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Stoddard has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.5%).
Gardner has the most people working from home (13.3%).
Marlow has the highest household income ($110k).
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 | Stoddard | Gardner | Marlow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,072 |
21,148Highest |
855Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53±4Highest 36% above U.S. |
43.7±2.3Lowest 12% above U.S. |
52.8±11.7 36% above U.S. |
| Stoddard and Marlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.5%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.3%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±6.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Marlow and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.4%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.6%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.5%±5.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Marlow and Stoddard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
23.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
33.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Gardner and Stoddard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $94,904±$11k 18% above U.S. |
$67,518±$8kLowest 16% below U.S. |
$110,455±$12kHighest 37% above U.S. |
| Marlow and Stoddard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $330,300±$20kHighest about the U.S. average |
$301,600±$20kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$325,400±$49k about the U.S. average |
| Stoddard and Marlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $895±$751Lowest 37% below U.S. |
$1,109±$51 22% below U.S. |
$1,154±$160Highest 18% below U.S. |
| Marlow and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,316 38% above U.S. |
$4,150Lowest 33% above U.S. |
$5,826Highest 87% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.6%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
49.7%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
18.2%±95.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Stoddard and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
13.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
58.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1954Lowest 26 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 27% above U.S. |
31 minLowest 16% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 33% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.5%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Gardner and Stoddard 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 | Stoddard School District | Gardner | Marlow School District |
| High school in town | None 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 | 4 photos → |
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.