Gardner – People are Back

Gardner MA Population Highest in History: 21,499, but still more open space than elsewhere.

Annual Growth rate now .5%: 100 years ago, Gardner’s population was about 17,000, rising to over 19,000 by 1930. Population was up and down over the years, rising to over 20,000 by 1940 and back to just under 18,000 by 1980. By 1990, the number of people in Gardner was back over 20,000 again, 50 years after it first had that distinction. Over the next 20 years, numbers rose gradually, with a consistent annual growth rate of .5% since 2011. It is estimated that Gardner added just over 100 residents per year in the last decade. With a land area of 22.1 square miles, Gardner’s population density is 974 per square mile. In contrast, Fitchburg has 1519 per square mile, Leominster 1540 per square mile, Worcester 5,664 per square mile, Springfield 4,910 per square mile and Boston 14,217 per square mile. Gardner has more open space and more breathing room than any nearby City.

Labor Force: Over 90 percent of Gardner residents were born in the U.S. and more than ¾ were born in Massachusetts. Just under 3% of Gardner residents are not U.S. citizens. Just under 60 percent participate in the Labor Force with an Unemployment rate of about 5 percent – highest among youths 16-19, young adults 20-24, and those 60-64.