Compare towns
Winchendon vs Mapleton vs Orange vs Gardner
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Winchendon has the most expensive homes ($324k median).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
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.
| Measure | Winchendon | Mapleton | Orange | Gardner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,440 |
1,884Lowest |
7,573 |
21,148Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.6±1.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
41.8±6 7% above U.S. |
41.8±2.2 7% above U.S. |
43.7±2.3Highest 12% above U.S. |
| Gardner and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.8%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±3.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.3%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 16.9%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.3%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.3%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.6%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Orange and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
15.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
23.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Mapleton and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $75,690±$14k 6% below U.S. |
$91,731±$25kHighest 14% above U.S. |
$55,824±$10kLowest 31% below U.S. |
$67,518±$8k 16% below U.S. |
| Mapleton and Winchendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $323,800±$19kHighest about the U.S. average |
$191,800±$23kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$245,900±$18k 26% below U.S. |
$301,600±$20k 9% below U.S. |
| Winchendon and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,255±$163Highest 11% below U.S. |
$610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$775±$233 45% below U.S. |
$1,109±$51 22% below U.S. |
| Winchendon and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,780 21% above U.S. |
$1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
$4,136 33% above U.S. |
$4,150Highest 33% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61.7%±17.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
41%±11.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
49.7%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Winchendon and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 18.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
22.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
13.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
70% U.S.: 65.2% |
58.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1966 14 yrs older than U.S. |
1954Lowest 26 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 23% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 24% above U.S. |
31 min 16% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.2%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.6%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Gardner and Winchendon 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 | #269 of 282 in MA | — | #275 of 282 in MA | #273 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Winchendon | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Orange · Ralph C Mahar | Gardner |
| High school in town | Murdock High School | None in town | Ralph C Mahar Regional | Gardner High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.3 |
— | 9.0Lowest |
13.5Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 6 photos → | None yet | 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.