Gardner receives the higher standardized Area Score. That reflects AreaProfile's weighting, not a judgment about which place is better to live in.
Signals
Gardner
Southbridge Town
Opportunity
45 · Bottom 27%
vs40 · Bottom 17%
Growth
47 · Bottom 45%
vs32 · Bottom 20%
Climate
60 · Bottom 14%
vs61 · Bottom 17%
Physical resilience
85 · Top 16%
vs85 · Top 16%
Housing affordability
80 · Bottom 49%
vs73 · Bottom 38%
Schools
20 · Bottom 11%
vs19 · Bottom 10%
Access
82 · Bottom 25%
vs83 · Bottom 27%
Economic stability
48 · Bottom 29%
vs57 · Bottom 44%
Measured values
| Metric | Gardner | Southbridge Town | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 21,148 | 17,928 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $67,518 | $66,287 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $37,215 | $35,249 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 958/sq mi | 886/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $301,600 | $294,800 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,109 | $1,256 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 58.9% | 42.7% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 5.1% | 5.4% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -1.3% | -1.3% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 23.8% | 19.4% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 13.7% | 15.3% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 9 | 5 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 0.4 | 0.3 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | 125.0% | -54.5% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 83°F | 80°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 16°F | 17°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 43.4" | 48.3" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 37 mi | 34 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 32.7 min | 29.7 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 43.7 | 40.9 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Public schools | 4 | 6 | 2024-25 school year |
| Students per teacher | 14.64 | 11.50 | 2024-25 school year |
| Math proficiency | 13.7% | 7.0% | 2019-20 school year |
| Reading proficiency | 29.2% | 15.5% | 2019-20 school year |
A bolded value is the more favorable of the two where the metric has a clear direction. Metrics like population and density have no inherent better or worse and are shown unweighted.
Physical risk tradeoff
Gardner
Elevated or high exposure: hurricane.
Southbridge Town
Elevated or high exposure: hurricane.
Your best match
Weight what matters to you. Your preferences stay in this browser and never change either Area Score.
Gardner
59
Your Score
57
Area Score
Southbridge Town
56
Your Score
54
Area Score
Select your priorities to see which of the two fits them better.
Full profiles: Gardner, MA · Southbridge Town, MA · How this is calculated: methodology