States › Massachusetts › Gardner

Is Gardner, MA expensive to live in?

OKRent takes 20 cents of every $1 people earn here.
🏠 Rent per month (2026)$1,22430% lower than U.S. average
💵 Families earn per year (2026)$72,818about $6,068/month · 16% lower than U.S. average
🔑 House price$301,6009% lower than U.S. average

Rent is lower than in 74% of U.S. cities. A typical house costs about 4.1 years of household income. Commutes are long, about 30.5 minutes each way.

How much money do I need?

To rent here comfortably, you should earn about $48,960 a year. That is $24 an hour at a full-time job.

Is rent cheaper than other Massachusetts cities?

Yes. Rent here is cheaper than in most of Massachusetts. It is number 8 of 123 cities from cheapest to most expensive.

Gardner
$1,224
Marblehead
$1,977
Wilmington
$3,539
Stoneham
$2,456
Winchester
$2,515
Winthrop Town
$2,514
Newburyport
$2,213

How much do households earn in Gardner?

Under $25k
17.8%
$25k–50k
22.8%
$50k–100k
30.9%
$100k–150k
17.2%
$150k+
6.5%

Share of households by yearly income. 23.7% of households earn $100,000 or more.

Rent by apartment size in Gardner

SizeGardnerU.S. average
Studio$627$1,338
1 bedroom$1,084$1,324
2 bedrooms$1,360$1,509
3 bedrooms$1,364$1,698

Median monthly rent plus utilities for all renters, by number of bedrooms.

How expensive is Gardner overall?

Everyday prices in Massachusetts overall are 6% above the U.S. average (index 105.8, U.S. = 100).

Housing
128
Goods (food, clothes…)
99
Utilities
152
Other services
103
U.S. average
100

Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities 2024. City-level data is not published for Gardner, so the Massachusetts figure is shown.

Taxes and bills in Gardner

🏛️ Property tax$4,150a year · 1.38% of home value · U.S. $3,119
⚡ Electric bill$155a month (typical) · U.S. $156

Life in Gardner

Commute to work30.5 minU.S.: 26.4 min
College degree23.8%U.S.: 35.7%
Own their home58.9%U.S.: 65.2%
Below poverty line13.7%U.S.: 12.5%
Unemployment7%U.S.: 5.2%

Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Gardner?

Renting is cheaper right now: about $869 a month less.

Renting
$1,224
Owning
$2,093

Owning assumes a typical $301,600 home, 10% down, a 30-year loan at 6.5% and about 1.5% a year for taxes and insurance. You would also need $30,160 for the down payment.

Frequently asked questions

What is the average rent in Gardner, MA?

Renting in Gardner costs a median of about $1,224 a month in 2026, including utilities. The Massachusetts median is $2,331.

How much do I need to make to live in Gardner?

To keep rent under 30% of income, you need about $48,960 a year, or $24 an hour at a full-time job.

Is Gardner cheap or expensive?

Gardner is rated OK: rent takes 20.2% of the typical household income of $72,818. It ranks 8th cheapest of 123 Massachusetts cities we track.

How much are property taxes in Gardner?

The median homeowner in Gardner pays $4,150 a year in property taxes, about 1.38% of the median home value.

Is Gardner more expensive than the national average?

Overall prices in Massachusetts are 6% above the U.S. average, according to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis.

How much does a house cost in Gardner?

The median home value in Gardner is $301,600, about 4.1 times the typical yearly household income.

21,148 people live in Gardner. Numbers are typical (middle) values.