Compare towns
Gardner vs Brooklyn vs Windsor Locks vs Ashburnham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Gardner has the most renters (41.1% rent).
Brooklyn has the oldest population (median age 45.6).
Windsor Locks has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Ashburnham has the most expensive homes ($391k median).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Gardner | Brooklyn | Windsor Locks | Ashburnham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 21,148Highest |
8,517 |
12,579 |
6,415Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — | +3.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±2.3 12% above U.S. |
45.6±2.5Highest 17% above U.S. |
41.4±2.6 6% above U.S. |
40.7±6.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
| Brooklyn and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.3%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.6%±4.6 U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
22.6%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Ashburnham and Brooklyn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.6%±2.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.1%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Gardner and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 23.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
23.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
28.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
44%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Windsor Locks and Ashburnham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $67,518±$8kLowest 16% below U.S. |
$96,207±$15k 19% above U.S. |
$81,205±$13k about the U.S. average |
$118,809±$11kHighest 47% above U.S. |
| Ashburnham and Brooklyn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $301,600±$20k 9% below U.S. |
$315,200±$28k 5% below U.S. |
$258,800±$14kLowest 22% below U.S. |
$390,700±$34kHighest 17% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,109±$51Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,125±$98 20% below U.S. |
$1,394±$187 about the U.S. average |
$1,807±$1kHighest 28% above U.S. |
| Ashburnham and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,150 33% above U.S. |
$4,538 45% above U.S. |
$3,688Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$6,046Highest 94% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.7%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
38.5%±19.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
58.2%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ashburnham and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 13.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
77.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
96%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1954Lowest 26 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1961 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 16% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 21% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.3%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.7%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16%±7.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Windsor Locks and Ashburnham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #273 of 282 in MA | #113 of 149 in CT | #109 of 149 in CT | #178 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Gardner | Brooklyn School District | Windsor Locks School District | Ashburnham-Westminster |
| High school in town | Gardner High | None in town | Windsor Locks High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
— | 8.9Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.