What is the cost of living in Gardner, MA?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Gardner has an overall cost of living index of 109, which is 1.1x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to Massachusetts, Gardner has a cost of living index that's 0.8x lower than Massachusetts's index of 130.
The standard of living in Gardner ranks as #5 most affordable out of the 113 places we measured in Massachusetts. By definition, that implies Gardner ranks as the #108 most expensive place in the Bay State.
For more reading on life in Gardner, check out:
Gardner Cost Of Living Vs. Massachusetts
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Gardner. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Gardner is 105.
The Groceries index in Gardner is 113.
The Health index in Gardner is 102.
The Housing index in Gardner is 111.
The Transportation index in Gardner is 117.
The Utilities index in Gardner is 112.
| Living Expense | Gardner | Massachusetts | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 109 | 130 | 100 |
| Services | 105 | 110 | 100 |
| Groceries | 113 | 115 | 100 |
| Health | 102 | 168 | 100 |
| Housing | 111 | 117 | 100 |
| Transportation | 117 | 115 | 100 |
| Utilities | 112 | 114 | 100 |
Gardner Cost Of Living Compared To Massachusetts Averages
Index where 100 = national average. Source: cost-of-living index 2026.
For more reading on cost of living around Massachusetts, check out:
- Most Expensive Cities In Massachusetts
- Most Affordable Cities In Massachusetts
- Average Rent In Massachusetts
Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Gardner, MA Housing Cost Breakdown
Housing swings affordability the most between places in Massachusetts, so we broke down housing costs into more detail. Home and income data comes from the most recent US Census ACS 2020-2024. The key points are:
The Median Home Value in Gardner is $369,177.
The Median Rent in Gardner is $1,109.
The Median Income in Gardner is $67,518.
The Home Value To Income in Gardner is 5.5x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Gardner is 0.2x.
| Statistic | Gardner | Massachusetts | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $369,177 | $656,690 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $1,109 | $1,762 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $67,518 | $103,960 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 5.5x | 6.3x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.2x | 0.2x | 0.21x |
Gardner, MA Costs By Category
Detailed Gardner Services costs vs. Massachusetts
| Item | Gardner | Massachusetts |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.25 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $13.07 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $25.44 | $18 |
| Haircut | $26.58 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $67.97 | $45.56 |
Detailed Gardner Groceries costs vs. Massachusetts
| Item | Gardner | Massachusetts |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $5.47 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $1.44 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $4.75 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $5.01 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $11.66 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $9.82 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.73 | $3.7 |
Detailed Gardner Health costs vs. Massachusetts
| Item | Gardner | Massachusetts |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $115.0 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $164.0 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $136.17 | $113.29 |
Detailed Gardner Transportation costs vs. Massachusetts
| Item | Gardner | Massachusetts |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.33 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $86.0 | $59.92 |
Detailed Gardner Utilities costs vs. Massachusetts
| Item | Gardner | Massachusetts |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $294.4 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $186.72 | $192.25 |
Gardner SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Gardner
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Gardner. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Newton, MA has a cost of living index of 205, 1.9x Gardner.
Leominster, MA has a cost of living index of 117, 1.1x Gardner.
Fitchburg, MA has a cost of living index of 113, 1.0x Gardner.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Gardner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Newton, MA | 89,044 | 205 | 1.9x |
| Leominster, MA | 43,909 | 117 | 1.1x |
| Fitchburg, MA | 41,798 | 113 | 1.0x |
| Lexington, MA | 34,295 | 209 | 1.9x |
| Needham, MA | 32,459 | 203 | 1.9x |
| Wellesley, MA | 30,347 | 239 | 2.2x |
| Reading, MA | 25,612 | 162 | 1.5x |
| Winchester, MA | 23,406 | 210 | 1.9x |
| Athol, MA | 8,801 | 102 | 0.9x |
| Cochituate, MA | 6,471 | 192 | 1.8x |
