Compare towns
Whitman vs Gardner vs Millbury
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Whitman has the youngest population (median age 40.4).
Gardner has the most affordable homes ($302k median).
Millbury has the most people working from home (14.8%).
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 | Whitman | Gardner | Millbury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,295 |
21,148Highest |
13,961Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4% MA: +7.4% |
+5.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.4±1.8Lowest about the MA average |
43.7±2.3Highest 9% above MA |
42.6±3.1 7% above MA |
| Gardner and Millbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.1%±3.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.3%±2.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.9%±3 MA: 19.4% |
| Whitman and Millbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15.5%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.6%±2.2 MA: 17.9% |
20.2%±2.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Millbury and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31.3% MA: 47.3% |
23.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
36.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Whitman and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $108,933±$14k 5% above MA |
$67,518±$8kLowest 35% below MA |
$118,790±$13kHighest 14% above MA |
| Millbury and Whitman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $472,700±$12kHighest 16% below MA |
$301,600±$20kLowest 46% below MA |
$450,100±$19k 20% below MA |
| Whitman and Millbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,771±$151Highest about the MA average |
$1,109±$51Lowest 37% below MA |
$1,623±$232 8% below MA |
| Whitman and Millbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,824Highest about the MA average |
$4,150Lowest 31% below MA |
$5,406 10% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61.9%±13.4Highest MA: 51.8% |
49.7%±8.6 MA: 51.8% |
43.5%±12.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Whitman and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.9% MA: 10% |
13.7%Highest MA: 10% |
5%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.4% MA: 62.5% |
58.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
75.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1957 7 yrs older than MA |
1954Lowest 10 yrs older than MA |
1965Highest 1 yr newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 24% above MA |
31 min 5% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 10.8%±2.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
13.3%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
14.8%±3.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Millbury 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 | #191 of 282 in MA | #273 of 282 in MA | #202 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Whitman-Hanson | Gardner | Millbury |
| High school in town | None in town | Gardner High | Millbury Junior/Senior High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.5Highest |
11.3Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.