Median Age
43 Years
Largest Age Group
30-39 Years
Approximately 14% of Residents
Under 20
21%
Over 65
21%
Gardner, MA
Area Guide
Avg Rent
$1,174
Population
21,568
Renter Mix
47% Rent
New England’s Chair City displays quirky history and delightful personality
Rural
•
Safe
•
Low Crime
Gardner is a small city in north-central Massachusetts, about sixty miles west of Boston on State Route 2. The community’s rich history as a lumber town and manufacturing center has earned Gardner nicknames like “The Furniture Capital of New England” and “Chair City.” The city center is a charming collective of vintage buildings at the confluence of Main, Parker, and Central Streets, with popular locally-owned businesses like Paramount Cafe and Gardner Ale House occupying the historic storefronts. Numerous city parks are spread throughout Gardner’s neighborhoods, with larger natural attractions like Crystal Lake and Dunn State Park easily accessible as well.
Explore the City
Residents can travel within Gardner or to other towns on the MART buses.
There are many longstanding businesses on Main Street.
Dunn State Park in Gardner is a 132-acre public recreation area for fishing and hiking.
Pulaski Playground & Dog Park is a popular recreational area located in Gardner.
In the winter, locals can head over to Dunn Pond located in the state park for some ice fishing.
Main Street in Gardner is home to many local shops and restaurants.
Demographics
Median Household Income
$54,898
Average: $72,671
Education
3,853
Residents Have a Degree
Job Market
10,055
Workers Employed
Age Distribution
Get a sense of this area's population profile.
Housing Distribution
Gardner has more homeowners than renters.
Renters
47%
Non-Renters
53%
Education Distribution
Review this city's overall education levels.
Bachelor's or Higher
14%
Other Education
86%
Rent Trends
As of June 2026, the average apartment rent in Gardner, MA is $2,002 for a studio, $1,174 for one bedroom, $1,469 for two bedrooms, and $1,784 for three bedrooms. Apartment rent in Gardner has increased by 2.5% in the past year.
Property Type
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
Apartment
$1,174/month
542 Sq Ft
Getting Around
Explore how walkable, bikeable, drivable, and transit-friendly Gardner, MA is for everyday living.
Fairly Walkable
Walkability
40
/ 100
Minimal Public Transit
Transit
10
/ 100
Exceptionally Drivable
Drivability
90
/ 100
Somewhat Bikeable
Bikeability
30
/ 100
Scores provided by
Schools
Public
Grades PK-5
1,071 Students
Public
Grades K-8
528 Students
Public
Grades PK-1
468 Students
Helen Mae Sauter Elementary School
Public
Grades 1-3
271 Students
Public
Grades 6-12
797 Students
Public
Grades 6-12
797 Students
Public
Grades K-8
528 Students
Public
Grades 6-12
797 Students
Public
Grades 6-12
797 Students
Gardner Academy For Learning And Technology
Public
Grades 9-12
74 Students
Pathways Early College Innovation School
Public
Grades 9-12
35 Students
School data provided by
The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
View GreatSchools Rating Methodology
Data provided by
GreatSchools.org
© 2026. All rights reserved.
The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
View GreatSchools Rating Methodology
Data provided by
GreatSchools.org
© 2026. All rights reserved.
Points of Interest
Shopping Centers
Parks and Recreation
- Dunn State Park
- Mass Audubon's Lake Wampanoag Wildlife Sanctuary
- Lake Dennison Recreation Area
- Otter River State Forest
- Wachusett Mountain State Reservation
Commuter Rail
Airports
- Worcester Regional
Top Apartments in Gardner
Houses for Rent in Gardner
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Methodology
† Our analysis of utilities, groceries, transportation, healthcare, home prices, and other goods and services is sourced from the Cost of Living Index, a respected benchmark published by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER) that provides a thorough overview of living expenses across different regions.
Rent data is provided by CoStar Group’s Market Trend reports. As the industry leader in commercial real estate information, analytics, and news, CoStar conducts extensive research to produce and maintain a comprehensive database of commercial real estate information. We combine this data with public record to provide the most up-to-date rental information available.
Consumer goods, services, and home prices are sourced from the Cost of Living Index published by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER). The data on this page is updated quarterly. It was last published in June 2026.
Demographic information comes from Neustar and combines detailed address data with U.S. Census and American Community Survey statistics to produce reliable local estimates.