Athol, MA vs Gardner, MA

Athol is moderately more affordable than Gardner, with a 5.8% lower cost of living index. Athol scores 86 compared to 91 for Gardner, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Gardner can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Athol is $1,018/month compared to $1,071/month in Gardner — a 5% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Athol is more affordable at $227,000 median vs $271,300.

Median household income in Athol is $61,742 compared to $62,948 in Gardner (-1.9%). Gardner does offer higher incomes, but the salary premium barely offsets the higher cost of living, leaving residents with a tighter budget. Looking at affordability, residents of Athol spend roughly 19.8% of their income on rent, less than the 20.4% in Gardner.

Climate-wise, both cities share similar average temperatures (48.3°F vs 48.9°F). Gardner receives more rainfall at 43.4" per year compared to 42.2" in Athol.