What stands out worked out from the figures below

Warren has the most kids (20.8% under 18).

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	Warren	Gardner
People
Population	5,009Lowest	21,148Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+5.2%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	38.7±7.3Lowest 3% below MA	43.7±2.3Highest 9% above MA
	Gardner and Warren are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20.8%±8Highest MA: 19.4%	18.3%±2.3Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Warren and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	14.6%±4.5Lowest MA: 17.9%	19.6%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9%
	Gardner and Warren are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	23.2%Lowest MA: 47.3%	23.8%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.9%±2.1Lowest MA: 7.9%	4.6%±1.3Highest MA: 7.9%
	Gardner and Warren are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$66,082±$6kLowest 36% below MA	$67,518±$8kHighest 35% below MA
	Gardner and Warren are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$333,700±$35kHighest 41% below MA	$301,600±$20kLowest 46% below MA
	Warren and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$890±$174Lowest 49% below MA	$1,109±$51Highest 37% below MA
	Gardner and Warren are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,530Highest 24% below MA	$4,150Lowest 31% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	29.7%±18.4Lowest MA: 51.8%	49.7%±8.6Highest MA: 51.8%
	Gardner and Warren are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	9%Lowest MA: 10%	13.7%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	64.5%Highest MA: 62.5%	58.9%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA	1954Lowest 10 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minHighest 13% above MA	31 minLowest 5% above MA
Work from home	8.5%±5.4Lowest MA: 18.6%	13.3%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6%
	Gardner and Warren 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	#165 of 282 in MA	#273 of 282 in MA
School district	Quaboag Regional	Gardner
High school in town	Quaboag Regional High	Gardner High
Students per teacherat that high school	10.0Lowest	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.