Austin, TX vs Gardner, MA
Side-by-side comparison of housing, income, commute, safety, and quality of life.
Score Snapshot
No universal winner
Scores summarize the published model. Use the objective metric differences below and your own priorities to choose.
Austin
68.3
#1322 nationally
Gardner
66.9
#1484 nationally
Austin leads in median household income ($91,461 vs $56,974). Gardner leads in cost of living index (109 vs 129). Austin leads in average commute (26.8 min vs 31.7 min).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Austin, TX | Gardner, MA |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 68.3 (#1322) | 66.9 (#1484) |
| Population | 967,862 | 20,974 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $504,148 | $379,602 |
| Median Household Income | $91,461 | $56,974 |
| Average Commute | 26.8 min | 31.7 min |
| Walk Score | 42 | 39 |
| Crime Level | Moderate | 9.0 |
| School Rating | 7.2 | N/A |
| Cost of Living Index | 129 | 109 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | D+39.3 | D+10.0 |
D+
68.3 Score
Austin, TX
Live music capital meets tech innovation
Median Home
$504,148
Population
967,862
Crime
Moderate
Schools
B
Southwest
View Austin, TX →
D
66.9 Score
Gardner, MA
Small Massachusetts city with local appeal
Median Home
$379,602
Population
20,974
Crime
Moderate
Walk Score
39
Northeast
View Gardner, MA →