Living in Gardner, Massachusetts

Gardner is a city in Worcester County known as "The Chair City" for the furniture factories that once dominated its economy — by 1910 about twenty chair factories here made an estimated four million chairs a year. The city sits in the hills of north central Massachusetts along Route 2, with Dunn State Park and Crystal Lake providing the main open space close to downtown.

By James Allen, NMLS 1216446 · Updated September 25, 2026

Gardner at a glance

$13.77Residential tax rate per $1,000, FY2026
$5,052Average single-family tax bill, FY2026
35–45 minDrive to Worcester
WorcesterCounty

Gardner's zip code

Gardner uses one zip code, 01440, for the whole city.

Gardner villages and zip codes
Area	Zip code	Where it is
Gardner	01440	The entire city is served by a single zip code; downtown centers on City Hall at 95 Pleasant Street.

Things to do in Gardner, MA

Start with Dunn State Park and Downtown Gardner / Parker Street, then 1 more below.

Dunn State Park
A roughly 200-acre state park built around Dunn Pond, with a loop trail, a wheelchair-accessible Woodland Trail, picnic areas and swimming and fishing access. It's the closest state park to downtown Gardner.
FreeYear-round
289 Pearl St, Gardner, MA 01440
Plan a visit to Dunn State Park (opens in a new tab)
Downtown Gardner / Parker Street
Gardner's commercial center along Main and Parker streets holds City Hall, the Blue Moon Diner and the Gardner Ale House brewpub, and hosts the city's street festivals.
Year-round
Main St & Parker St, Gardner, MA 01440
Plan a visit to Downtown Gardner / Parker Street (opens in a new tab)
Levi Heywood Memorial Library
Gardner's public library, named for the founder of the Heywood-Wakefield furniture company that built the city's chair-making industry starting in 1826.
Free
55 W Lynde St, Gardner, MA 01440
Plan a visit to Levi Heywood Memorial Library (opens in a new tab)

More worth a visit

Mount Wachusett Community CollegeA public community college campus on the edge of the city, with public lectures, athletic facilities and events.Website

Around the calendar

June
Food Truck FestivalAn annual food truck gathering held at the foot of City Hall.
September
Fabulous Fall FestivalA family street festival that closes Downtown Gardner to traffic for vendor tents, crafters and entertainment.
Fall
Experience Gardner Festival & Sidewalk SaleA two-day downtown street fair with community exhibits, performances and a sidewalk sale, held annually since the 1940s.

A little history

European settlement began in 1764; the town was incorporated in 1785 and named for Colonel Thomas Gardner, a Revolutionary War officer.

Furniture manufacturing built the city's economy after Heywood-Wakefield Company was founded in 1826; by 1910 Gardner's roughly twenty chair factories produced an estimated four million chairs a year, earning it the nickname "The Chair City."

Gardner is the birthplace of the practical time clock, invented in 1894 by Edward G. Watkins.

Parks, trails and outdoors in Gardner

Most of Gardner's outdoor recreation centers on Dunn State Park and Crystal Lake, both a short drive or walk from downtown.

Dunn State ParkTrails, a pond beach, fishing and picnicking on the edge of the city.More information
Crystal LakeA lake within the city limits near Dunn State Park.

Where to eat in Gardner: restaurants and coffee

1 places in Gardner to try, including diner. No one paid to be listed.

Blue Moon Diner
Diner
A 1949 barrel-roofed diner built by the Worcester Lunch Car Company and listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2003, serving breakfast and lunch.
102 Main St, Gardner, MA 01440

Walkability and getting around Gardner

Downtown Gardner around Main and Parker streets is walkable for errands and dining, but most residential neighborhoods and the commercial strip along Timpany Boulevard require a car.

Drive times

Worcester, about 27 miles35–45 min
Worcester Regional Airport, about 30 miles40–50 min

Approximate, without traffic.

By bus or train

The Montachusett Regional Transit Authority (MART) runs fixed local bus routes through Gardner, including Route 1, Route 3 and a Gardner–Westminster route, plus regional weekday routes. There is no passenger rail station in Gardner; MBTA commuter rail service to Boston ended here in 1987, and MART now provides van service connecting to the Wachusett Line terminus.

Gardner property taxes

Gardner's most recent certified residential tax rate is $13.77 per $1,000 of assessed value, for FY2026 (July 2025 to June 2026). Massachusetts assesses homes at full value, so each $100,000 of assessed value costs about $1,377 a year. The average single-family tax bill was $5,052, on an average assessed value of $366,888.

Gardner's FY2026 tax rates

$13.77per $1,000, residential

Residential$13.77 per $1,000
Average single-family assessed value$366,888
Average single-family tax bill$5,052
Motor vehicle excise (statewide)$25 per $1,000 of value

Source: Massachusetts Division of Local Services, Tax Rates by Class and Average Single Family Tax Bill.

How the residential rate has changed

Fiscal year	Residential rate
FY2022	$18.59
FY2023	$16.13
FY2024	$14.99
FY2025	$14.36
FY2026	$13.77

Look up a Gardner property

Property record cardsAssessed value, lot size and building details
FEMA flood mapWhether a lender will require flood insurance
City ClerkVital records and town records
Assessors' officeQuestions about a value
Registry of DeedsDeeds and mortgages for the county

Buying a home in Gardner

Things to look into on a Gardner purchase: MassHousing limits, the flood map, the smoke certificate, pay-as-you-throw.

MassHousing

MassHousing home loans

MassHousing sets income limits by community, and they depend on household size and loan program. We check them with you before you shop.

MassHousing home loans (opens in a new tab)

Flood maps

Check the flood zone first

Dunn Pond, Crystal Lake and the streams draining toward the Millers and Otter rivers put some low-lying parcels near these water bodies in FEMA flood zones; check the FEMA flood map for a specific address before making an offer. We take an early look at FEMA's map before you offer. That's not a flood determination: the official determination ordered with your loan decides whether flood insurance is required.

FEMA's flood map for Gardner (opens in a new tab)

Before closing

Smoke and CO certificate

Massachusetts requires the seller to get a smoke and carbon monoxide certificate from the Gardner Fire Department before the sale closes. Call 978-630-4051 to schedule.

Gardner Fire Department page (opens in a new tab)

Smoke certificate

Fire Department inspection before closing

Massachusetts requires a smoke detector, carbon monoxide detector and smoke-certificate inspection from the local fire department before a home sale can close. In Gardner this is handled by the Fire Department.

Gardner Fire Department (opens in a new tab)

Pay-As-You-Throw

Trash billing and PAYT bags

Gardner bills curbside trash and recycling quarterly with the water and sewer bill, and any trash beyond the toter needs a yellow Pay-As-You-Throw bag purchased separately.

All loans are subject to credit approval, underwriting, and property and program requirements. MassHousing limits and eligibility are set by MassHousing and change from time to time.

Thinking about buying in Gardner?

We're licensed in Massachusetts. Send us a Gardner address and we'll run the numbers, taxes included.

Call (860) 398-5268 Text us Email the team

Compare loan options Our process

Moving to Gardner: utilities, trash and city hall

Who to call in Gardner: National Grid delivers electricity; the city runs a Community Choice Power Supply Program that sets the supply portion of the bill (First Point Power was the supplier selected for November 2025–November 2028), while National Grid continues delivery and billing. for power.

ElectricNational Grid delivers electricity; the city runs a Community Choice Power Supply Program that sets the supply portion of the bill (First Point Power was the supplier selected for November 2025–November 2028), while National Grid continues delivery and billing.
WaterCity of Gardner Water/Sewer Department, which owns and operates the water and sewer systems and subcontracts treatment plant operations to Veolia
Sewer or septicCity sewer service in developed areas, operated by the Gardner Water/Sewer Department
Trash and recyclingParticipating households receive a city-issued trash toter and recycling toter and are billed quarterly on the water, sewer and trash bill. Extra trash beyond the toter goes out in yellow Gardner Pay-As-You-Throw bags, sold in rolls of 10 for $35 or individually for $3.50 at City Hall or area grocery stores.
Registry of Motor VehiclesUpdate your address with the RMV within 30 days. Excise tax goes to the city or town where the car is garaged.Mass. RMV

Gardner Transfer Station / Landfill

744 West St, Gardner, MA

Transfer station details (opens in a new tab)

City Hall offices and contacts

Gardner City Hall is at 95 Pleasant Street, Gardner, MA 01440. Hours: Monday–Thursday 8am–4:30pm, Friday 8am–1pm. Main line: 978-632-1900.

Gardner, MA FAQ: taxes and town services

What is the property tax rate in Gardner, MA?

Gardner's most recent certified residential tax rate is $13.77 per $1,000 of assessed value, for FY2026 (July 2025 to June 2026). Massachusetts fiscal years run July 1 to June 30.

How much are property taxes on a $400,000 home in Gardner?

Massachusetts taxes homes on their full assessed value. If a home is assessed at $400,000, that's about $5,508 a year at $13.77 per $1,000. The bill uses the assessor's value, not the sale price.

Does Gardner have a split tax rate?

No. Gardner uses a single rate of $13.77 per $1,000 for all property classes.

What is the average single-family tax bill in Gardner?

The average single-family tax bill in Gardner was $5,052 for FY2026, on an average assessed value of $366,888.

Is trash pickup curbside in Gardner?

Yes. The city issues a trash toter and recycling toter to each participating household and bills quarterly; extra trash requires a yellow Pay-As-You-Throw bag.

Who supplies electricity in Gardner?

National Grid delivers electricity to homes and businesses; the city's Community Choice Power Supply Program sets the supply rate through a chosen supplier while National Grid continues to bill and deliver.

What zip code is Gardner, MA?

01440, for the entire city.

Is there public transit in Gardner?

Yes. The Montachusett Regional Transit Authority (MART) runs local fixed bus routes through the city; there is no passenger rail station.

How far is Gardner from Worcester?

About 27 miles, roughly a 35–45 minute drive.

Towns near Gardner

Neighbors of Gardner, including across the Connecticut line where it applies. All Massachusetts town guides.

Sources

Wikipedia: Gardner, Massachusetts: en.wikipedia.org
City of Gardner official website: gardner-ma.gov
Gardner Curbside Trash & Recycling Program: gardner-ma.gov
Gardner Fire Department: gardner-ma.gov
Gardner Board of Health: gardner-ma.gov
Gardner Water/Sewer Department: gardner-ma.gov
Montachusett Regional Transit Authority (MART): mrta.us
Dunn State Park, Mass.gov: mass.gov
Blue Moon Diner, Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org
City of Gardner City Energy Supplier Program: gardner-ma.gov
Tax rates and average single-family value and tax bill: Massachusetts Division of Local Services, Tax Rates by Class and Average Single Family Tax Bill.
Motor vehicle excise: M.G.L. c. 60A, $25 per $1,000 of value statewide.
Walkability: Walk Score® ratings, provided live by Walk Score. Addresses are located with the U.S. Census Bureau geocoder.
Checked September 25, 2026.