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CITY

Gardner

Massachusetts · 21,483 residents (2025 est.) · 22.066 sq mi
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The short version

Gardner has lower-than-average household income, with a median household income of $67,518. Population has held roughly steady since 2000. Median home value has roughly tripled since 2000, reaching $301,600. Households here earn about 35% less than the Massachusetts median.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Older
median age 43.7
US median: 38.9
Less educated
24% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 59%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
21,148
+2%since 2000
from 20,770 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
958 / sq mi
+2%since 2000
from 941 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
43.7
+17%since 2000
from 37.5 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:21,483 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
20K20K21K21K21K1990201020202024Gardner
202421K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$67,518
−1%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $37,334 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$37,215
+100%since 2000
from $18,624 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
45.1%
+15.6 ptssince 2009
from 29.4% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
13.7%
+4.1 ptssince 2000
from 9.6% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.453
+1%since 2010
from 0.446 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Retail trade12.9%
US avg: 9.9%
Information9.6%
US avg: 10.8%
Wholesale trade7.6%
US avg: 6.9%
Finance & insurance7.6%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical6.7%
US avg: 5.1%
Other services4.2%
US avg: 6.7%
Public administration3.9%
US avg: 4.8%
Transportation & warehousing2.4%
US avg: 2.2%
Education & health services0.9%
US avg: 0.9%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing0.9%
US avg: 1.6%
Arts, entertainment, food0.6%
US avg: 1.9%
Manufacturing0.5%
US avg: 0.4%
Construction0.4%
US avg: 1.2%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$301,600
+59%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $104,100 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$1,109
+22%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $498 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
58.9%
+4.3 ptssince 2000
from 54.6% in 2000
41.1% rent
Vacancy rate
5.8%
−2.5 ptssince 2009
from 8.3% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
30.8%
−1.8 ptssince 2009
from 32.6% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
47.4%
+8.0 ptssince 2009
from 39.4% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
4.5
+60%since 2000
from 2.8 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
39
RELATED:See current rent listings in Gardner on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic90.9%(18,882)
Black2.1%(436)
Hispanic / Latino4.1%(848)
Asian1.4%(282)
Other0%
Diversity Score18.1%(3,763)
2024
White, non-Hispanic77.6%(16,420)
Black4%(851)
Hispanic / Latino10.7%(2,256)
Asian2.4%(514)
Other5.2%(1,107)
Diversity Score47.6%(10,067)
Diversity Score
48
+163%since 2000
from 18 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
23.8%
+8.6 ptssince 2000
from 15.2% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
87.0%
+8.8 ptssince 2000
from 78.2% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
8.0%
+3.0 ptssince 2000
from 5.0% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
30.5 min
+73%since 2000
from 17.7 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
68.8%
−9.2 ptssince 2009
from 78.0% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
10.5%
−2.0 ptssince 2009
from 12.5% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
1.7%
+0.5 ptssince 2009
from 1.2% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
13.3%
+11.0 ptssince 2009
from 2.3% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
2.7%
−0.6 ptssince 2009
from 3.3% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.3%
+0.2 ptssince 2009
from 0.1% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
11.1%
−0.8 ptssince 2009
from 11.9% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
7.0%
−3.8 ptssince 2011
from 10.8% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
58.8%
−3.9 ptssince 2011
from 62.7% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
14.2%
+1.1 ptssince 2009
from 13.1% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
38.7%
−20.7 ptssince 2009
from 59.4% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
51.7%
−0.4 ptssince 2009
from 52.0% in 2009
Female
48.3%
+0.4 ptssince 2009
from 48.0% in 2009
Foreign born
7.9%
+1.3 ptssince 2009
from 6.6% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
7.0%
−45.6 ptssince 2009
from 52.6% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
19.2%
+2.9 ptssince 2012
from 16.3% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
2.8%
−93.6 ptssince 2013
from 96.4% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
90.1%
+11.3 ptssince 2017
from 78.8% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
86.1%
−4.7 ptssince 2016
from 90.8% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
6.7%
+2.0 ptssince 2016
from 4.7% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Drill deeper

Places similar to Gardner

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Pop 21,097
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Places similar to Gardner
Head to head

Compare Gardner to nearby cities

GARDNER VS
Fitchburg
Income$73,040+8%
Home value$336,400+12%
Population42,136+96%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
GARDNER VS
Leominster
Income$83,816+24%
Home value$380,400+26%
Population44,194+106%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
GARDNER VS
Athol
Income$67,394same
Home value$248,700−18%
Population8,801−59%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
GARDNER VS
Milford
Income$78,684+17%
Home value$357,800+19%
Population8,956−58%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Gardner, Massachusetts?

Gardner, Massachusetts has about 21,148 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Gardner, Massachusetts?

The typical household in Gardner, Massachusetts earns about $67,518 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Gardner, Massachusetts expensive?

In Gardner, Massachusetts, the median home is worth about $301,600, and the typical rent is about $1,109 a month.

How educated are people in Gardner, Massachusetts?

About 23.8% of adults age 25 and over in Gardner, Massachusetts hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Gardner, Massachusetts?

About 13.7% of people in Gardner, Massachusetts live below the federal poverty line.

Has Gardner, Massachusetts grown since 1990?

Yes, Gardner, Massachusetts has grown since 1990. The population has added about 1,023 residents, a change of about 5 percent over that period.

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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →