What stands out worked out from the figures below

Wilbraham has the highest household income ($122k).

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	Wilbraham	Gardner
People
Population	14,572Lowest	21,148Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.8%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+5.2%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	44.3±2.7Highest 11% above MA	43.7±2.3Lowest 9% above MA
	Wilbraham and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	23.2%±3.7Highest MA: 19.4%	18.3%±2.3Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Wilbraham and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	23%±3.4Highest MA: 17.9%	19.6%±2.2Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Wilbraham and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	51.9%Highest MA: 47.3%	23.8%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.2%±1.8Highest MA: 7.9%	4.6%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Wilbraham and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$122,051±$14kHighest 17% above MA	$67,518±$8kLowest 35% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$416,000±$25kHighest 26% below MA	$301,600±$20kLowest 46% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,175±$241Highest 33% below MA	$1,109±$51Lowest 37% below MA
	Wilbraham and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,658Highest 11% above MA	$4,150Lowest 31% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	53.1%±23.8Highest MA: 51.8%	49.7%±8.6Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Wilbraham and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.6%Lowest MA: 10%	13.7%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	88.8%Highest MA: 62.5%	58.9%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1966Highest 2 yrs newer than MA	1954Lowest 10 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minLowest 9% below MA	31 minHighest 5% above MA
Work from home	12.9%±3.1Lowest MA: 18.6%	13.3%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6%
	Gardner and Wilbraham 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	#88 of 282 in MA	#273 of 282 in MA
School district	Hampden-Wilbraham	Gardner
High school in town	Minnechaug Regional High	Gardner High
Students per teacherat that high school	14.2Highest	13.5Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.