Gardner 76 Exceptional
Gardner Livability #61 ranked city in Massachusetts#3,394 ranked city in the USARanks better than 88% of areas
Is This the Right Place for You? Local Insights Report
  • Uncover the key details before you move
  • Use local data to guide a smarter investment
  • Compare neighborhoods side by side
Local Insights Report

Pros and Cons of Living in Gardner

PROS
  • Commute Commute

    A high commute score suggests convenient, easy access to public transportation, with shorter-than-average work commute times to work.

  • Housing Housing

    High scores in the housing category are attributed to this area, possibly pointing to a favorable home affordability ratio, robust appreciation rates or elevated home values.

  • Health & Safety Health & Safety

    Achieving a high health and safety score relies on factors including great air quality and convenient access to vital health facilities such as hospitals, doctors, clinics and police stations.

  • Ratings Ratings

    Locals express favorable opinions about the proximity of everyday local amenities, parks, public transit, neighborly atmosphere, strong sense of community and the general safety of the area.

CONS
  • Amenities Amenities

    A large portion of amenities are not ideally situated within walking distance, potentially requiring residents to utilize a vehicle or public transportation.

What's it like Living in Gardner?

Gardner is a moderately-sized city located in the state of Massachusetts. The city has a population of 21,410 residents. If we look at the most recent Census, Gardner is known to have a predominantly White population. The next two most common races are Black and Asian. An important consideration when living in Gardner is the longer-than-average commute times. If you seek a short work commute, this area may not be the best choice for you. The one-way commute time here typically takes 31 minutes, far surpassing the national average of 26 minutes.

Are you trying to decide if living in Gardner is the right fit for your lifestyle? To ensure a great experience before moving to any new city in Massachusetts, you will probably want to make sure that you check all of the most important boxes. Several key factors deserve attention. For one, safety is paramount, ensuring that your new area is low in crime is key. Proximity to workplaces or schools minimizes commute times and fosters convenience. Access to essential amenities like parks, grocery stores, food, fitness, shops and healthcare facilities enhances daily life. Efficient public transportation options provide mobility and connectivity. The sense of community creates a welcoming and supportive environment. Lastly, the overall atmosphere, encompassing the vibe, aesthetics, and lifestyle offerings, contributes to a fulfilling living experience. Considering these elements helps identify the ideal neighborhood for your needs and preferences. To help you find the best places to live in and around Gardner, AreaVibes has created a livability score using key metrics like amenities, crime, cost of living and more.

With a livability score of 75/100, Gardner is ranked #3,560 in the United States and #74 in Massachusetts. Pack your bags! This is a very high score in comparison to other US cities. Living in Gardner could be a great choice! There are nine total categories that form the livability score. Gardner ranks well for crime (A-) and housing (A+) Gardner does not rank well for the following: amenities (F) and cost of living (D). It might be wise to take a closer look at each category to find out why.

Real estate represents the most substantial investment for homebuyers, constituting their most valuable asset. Renters, on the other hand, typically see their monthly rent as their most significant expense. The Gardner market earns a high score in the housing category, surpassing the national average in factors like home and rental affordability and appreciation rates. This robust real estate market not only benefits individual homeowners and renters but also spurs vigorous local economic activity and job growth, solidifying its significance in driving the region's prosperity and financial well-being.

Being close to public transit, grocery stores, parks and other conveniences are all important when weighing your options for a new home in Gardner. Before you determine if any of these amenities are available in the area, you will also want to know if the real estate prices in Gardner are affordable. The median home price for Gardner homes is $354,500, which is 43.2% lower than the Massachusetts average. If we take a closer look at the affordability of homes in Gardner, we’ll see that the home price to income ratio is 4.5, which is 23.7% lower than the Massachusetts average.

Best Places to Live in and Around Gardner

See all the best places to live around Gardner

How Do You Rate The Livability In Gardner?

1. Select a livability score between 1-100
0
Awful
25
Poor
50
Average
75
Good
100
Great
2. Select any tags that apply to this area
View results

Compare Gardner, MA Livability

City Image
    City Default Image
      vs

      Gardner transportation information

      Statistic Gardner Massachusetts National
      Average one way commute31min29min26min
      Workers who drive to work76.4%71.1%76.4%
      Workers who carpool11.2%7.5%9.3%
      Workers who take public transit0.8%9.9%5.1%
      Workers who bicycle0.1%0.8%0.6%
      Workers who walk2.5%4.9%2.8%
      Working from home6.7%4.7%4.6%
      Source: The Gardner, MA data and statistics displayed above are derived from the United States Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS) and include 2026 modeled data developed using proprietary methodologies.