What are the schools like in Gardner, MA?

Gardner is served primarily by Gardner. The district operates 1 elementary schools, 1 middle schools, and 2 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 14.4:1.

What is the median household income in Gardner?

The median household income in Gardner, MA is $56,974 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 6.4%.

What is the weather like in Gardner, MA?

Gardner has an average high temperature of 30.6°F in January and 79.6°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 47.8 inches and annual snowfall averages 75.2 inches.

Gardner, MA Cost of Living, Crime & Is It a Good Place to Live? (2026)

Q: Is Gardner, MA affordable or expensive?

Gardner's cost of living index is 101, where 100 represents the national average. This means Gardner is 1% more expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $243,900 and the median rent is $1,041 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Gardner, MA?

Gardner has a violent crime rate of 328.8 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 620.1 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Gardner, MA a Good Place to Live?

Gardner is a small city of 21,090 in Massachusetts, with a median household income of $56,974 and a 6.4% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 101 (US average = 100), which is 1% above the national average.

Strengths: Gardner stands out for below-average home prices, lower-than-average crime, solid school ratings (B-).

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include longer commutes, an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Gardner is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Gardner city data on this page comes from official government sources — the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.

Cost of Living

Index: 100.8

Gardner's overall cost of living index is 100.8, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Gardner costs roughly 1% more than the average American city.

Metric	Gardner, MA	National Avg
Median Home Value	$243,900	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$1,041	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	57.7%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$56,974	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Safer than Average

Gardner's violent crime rate is 328.8 per 100,000 residents — 13% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

328.8 /100k

Property Crime

620.1 /100k

Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.

Schools & Education

Gardner is served primarily by Gardner. The student-to-teacher ratio is 14.4:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Gardner, MA	National Avg
School District	Gardner	—
Elementary Schools	1	—
Middle Schools	1	—
High Schools	2	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	14.4:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	19.4%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	88.2%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Gardner sees average highs of 30.6°F in January and 79.6°F in July, with 47.8 inches of annual precipitation and 75.2 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Gardner, MA
Average High — January	30.6°F
Average High — July	79.6°F
Annual Precipitation	47.8"
Annual Snowfall	75.2"

Demographics

Metric	Gardner, MA	National Avg
Population	21,090	—
Median Age	45.0	38.9
Unemployment Rate	6.4%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	31.7 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	85.7%	59.3%
Black or African American	2.4%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	6.1%	18.9%
Asian	3.2%	6.3%
Under 18	17.5%	22.2%
65 and over	19.2%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

South Ashburnham, MA 3 mi Baldwinville, MA 5 mi Winchendon, MA 7 mi Fitchburg, MA 9 mi Leominster, MA 12 mi

ZIP Codes in Gardner

Gardner, MA is covered by 1 ZIP code:

01440

Gardner vs Other Cities

Gardner, MA vs South Ashburnham, MA Gardner, MA vs Baldwinville, MA Gardner, MA vs Winchendon, MA Gardner, MA vs Fitchburg, MA Gardner, MA vs Leominster, MA

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Gardner, MA affordable or expensive?

Gardner's cost of living index is 101, where 100 is the national average. That puts Gardner roughly 1% above the national average in cost. The median home price is $243,900 and median rent is $1,041/month.

What is the crime rate in Gardner, MA?

Gardner's violent crime rate is 328.8 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 620.1 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Gardner?

Public schools in Gardner are operated by Gardner. The district has 1 elementary, 1 middle, and 2 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 14.4:1. 19.4% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Gardner, MA a good place to live?

Gardner, MA has a population of 21,090, a median household income of $56,974, and an unemployment rate of 6.4%. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.

What is the weather like in Gardner?

Gardner averages 30.6°F in January and 79.6°F in July. Annual rainfall is 47.8 inches with about 75.2 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Gardner?

Gardner, MA is covered by 1 ZIP code: 01440.

What is the population of Gardner?

The population of Gardner, Massachusetts is 21,090 with a median age of 45.0. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Gardner?

Key numbers for living in Gardner: cost of living index 101 (100 = US average), median home $243,900, median household income $56,974, crime index 64 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B-. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Gardner side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.