Photo: Rehua · CC BY-SA 4.0Gardner spent less per resident in 2022 than 97% of similar cities
Gardner’s city government spent $99.8 million on day-to-day services in the year to June 30, 2024, about $4,775 per resident. Water and other utilities ($3.6 million) are counted separately.
What stands out about how Gardner is run
Read from the city’s budget and official records.
$3,263 per resident in 2022: less than 97% of them
Gardner’s day-to-day spending in 2022 ($3,263 per resident, hospital and utilities left out) against 31 Massachusetts cities of 10,000–24,999 that run their own schools: the median was $4,146, and the middle half spent $3,744–$4,490. Gardner spent less than 97% of them.
Includes sewer and trash ($2.8 million), as the Census Bureau counts them. Later years come from a Census sample, so the comparison stays on 2022. How Town Hall compares budgets →
Massachusetts cities of 10,000–24,999 that run their own schools, 2022 Census of Governments (every government counted that year; Gardner itself left out).
About $4,775 per resident a year, or $13.08 a day
Schools are part of the city’s budget, so they lead the receipt: 49% of day-to-day spending.
Thank you for being a neighbor
Gardner runs its own schools, so school spending is part of this budget. Comparisons are with Massachusetts cities of 10,000–24,999 that run their own schools.
Day-to-day spending is up 49% since 2022
Day-to-day services, in dollars, in the years Gardner reported to the Census Bureau. Prices rose too: about 4% a year in 2022–2024.
Day-to-day spending by fiscal year
Per resident: 2022: $3,263 · 2023: $3,455 · 2024: $4,775.
Building projects, interest and enterprises (hospital, utilities) are left out, so a big construction year doesn’t read as growth.
The typical homeowner pays $4,150 a year
Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 1.38% of the home’s value, vs 1.07% across Massachusetts.
Typical yearly bill next door and statewide
The Housing page’s calculator splits a monthly payment into loan, tax and insurance at Gardner’s rate.
Can I afford it? →The median bill homeowners report to the Census survey (bills of $10,000+ are reported as “$10,000+”). The effective rate is that bill ÷ the median home value: a rough guide, not the official tax rate.
Tax bills are one input to Gardner’s Cost of living grade. Cost of living in Gardner →
Who’s in charge in Gardner
Names change after every election, so we link to the source that keeps them current.
Gardner’s meeting calendar isn’t in our feed yet. The city posts agendas and minutes on gardner-ma.gov ↗.
One full-time city employee for every 40 residents
On the payroll in March 2022, from the Census Bureau’s Annual Survey of Public Employment & Payroll. Residents: the Census population in the 2024 finance file (20,902).
By department full-time, plus part-time, March 2022
The Census reports one month’s payroll (March); yearly figures are that month × 12, an estimate. Part-timers count half in the bar lengths.
Gardner School District
Gardner’s K–12 school district. The schools are run by Gardner, so this money is part of the budget above.
Of the $18,857 per pupil, $11,649 goes to the classroom (teachers, aides, supplies); the rest to buses, buildings, counselors and administration. Building projects and debt payments aren’t in the per-pupil figure.
Massachusetts districts overall: 49% local, 43% state, 8% federal.
School year 2023–24. Census Bureau school finance survey.
How Gardner voted in 2024
Official results for Gardner’s own voters, as certified after the November 5, 2024 general election, with the county and the state beside them.
Kamala D HarrisDemocrat51.4%4,835 votes
Donald J TrumpRepublican46.1%4,338 votesOthers: 2.4% (230 votes).
Most votes in Gardner: Kamala D Harris
Worcester County: Harris 53.6%, Trump 43.7% · Massachusetts: Harris 61.2%, Trump 36.0%
of Gardner’s 16,624 adult citizens voted for president in 2024. Across Massachusetts: 67%.
Votes ÷ citizens of voting age (Census CVAP, 2020–24 ACS).
Most votes in Gardner: Elizabeth Ann Warren
Worcester County: Warren 51.9%, Deaton 48.0% · Massachusetts: Warren 59.8%, Deaton 40.0%
Most votes in the district: Lori Loureiro Trahan
Whole-district result
President, 2024: Gardner, its county and the state
| Harris | Trump | Others | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gardner | 51.4% | 46.1% | 2.4% | 9,403 |
| Worcester County | 53.6% | 43.7% | 2.7% | 420,841 |
| Massachusetts | 61.2% | 36.0% | 2.8% | 3,473,668 |
Official 2024 general election returns, as certified (MIT Election Data + Science Lab). Percentages are of votes for candidates; blank and spoiled ballots aren’t counted. Candidates are listed by votes, and party colors are neutral on purpose.
Portraits: Kamala D Harris: official vice-presidential portrait, Lawrence Jackson, The White House, 2021; Donald J Trump: official portrait, Shealah Craighead, The White House, 2017. All are U.S. government works in the public domain. A race shows photos only when every candidate has an official portrait; otherwise every candidate in it gets initials.
From town hall to Washington
Every level of government that speaks for Gardner.
- 1Your cityMayor & councilOfficials: gardner-ma.gov ↗
- 2Massachusetts HouseState representatives
- 3Massachusetts SenateState senator
- 4GovernorStatewide
- 5U.S. HouseYour representative in Congress
- 6U.S. SenateBoth represent all of Massachusetts
Democrat · Republican · other or independent. Tap a name for their official page.
How Gardner compares with the towns next door
Gardner spent $3,263 per resident in 2022. Most of its neighbors are townships, a different kind of government, so the like-for-like comparison is with similar cities, above. Tap a town to see its page.
| Town | Day-to-day, per resident (2022) | Tax bill |
|---|---|---|
| Hubbardston | $941 | $4,716 |
| Templeton | $1,168 | $4,554 |
| Ashburnham | $1,448 | $6,046 |
| Westminster | $1,657 | $4,973 |
| Winchendon | $3,631 runs schools | $3,780 |
| Gardner | $3,263 | $4,150 |
Day-to-day spending in 2022, the last year every government was counted, for governments that reported it; hospital and utilities left out. Tax bill: the typical homeowner’s bill (Census ACS, 2020–24).
Reach Gardner’s government
The official site has phone numbers, hours and forms. Neighbors add the rest to the Handbook.
Questions about Gardner’s government
How much does Gardner spend per resident?
About $4,775 per resident on day-to-day services in the year to June 30, 2024, as reported to the Census Bureau. In 2022, the last full count, its $3,263 was less than 97% of 31 Massachusetts cities of 10,000–24,999 that run their own schools.
What is the property tax rate in Gardner?
Homeowners report a typical bill of $4,150 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 1.38% of the typical home’s value, vs 1.07% across Massachusetts. For the official rate per $1,000 of assessed value, see gardner-ma.gov.
Who runs Gardner’s government?
See gardner-ma.gov for current officials. We name an official only when a public source lists a current term, and none does for Gardner yet.
How did Gardner vote in 2024?
For president, Kamala D Harris 51.4%, Donald J Trump 46.1% (9,403 votes, official results). Worcester County: Harris 53.6%, Trump 43.7%. Massachusetts: Harris 61.2%, Trump 36.0%.
How many people work for Gardner?
528 full-time and 161 part-time employees in March 2022, with a March payroll of $2.9M (about $35.2M a year if every month were the same), as reported to the Census Bureau.
Who represents Gardner in the state legislature?
State Senate District Worcester and Hampshire (Peter Durant) and State House District 2nd Worcester (Jon Zlotnik). The House district also covers three neighboring towns. Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.
Ask neighbors about Gardner’s government
Neighbors who’ve been to the meetings can help.
Budget and staff: U.S. Census Bureau, Census of Governments (2022, every government) and Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances (2023–24, a sample) and the Annual Survey of Public Employment & Payroll; day-to-day spending is current operations, with hospitals, utilities and airports apart. School district: Census school finance survey, 2023–24. Property tax: Census American Community Survey, 2020–24. Elections: official 2024 returns via the MIT Election Data + Science Lab; turnout uses Census citizen voting-age population (CVAP, 2020–24). Officials: Open States, names shown only with a current term (checked October 9, 2026). Districts: Census Bureau (119th Congress, 2024 state districts); legislators: Open States and congress-legislators. How Town Hall works →