Compare towns
Gardner vs Danielson vs Windsor Locks
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 expensive homes ($302k median).
Danielson has the youngest population (median age 34.5).
Windsor Locks has the most people working from home (17.7%).
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 | Danielson | Windsor Locks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 21,148Highest |
4,209Lowest |
12,579 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 43.7±2.3Highest 12% above U.S. |
34.5±3.6Lowest 11% below U.S. |
41.4±2.6 6% above U.S. |
| Gardner and Windsor Locks 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% |
18.9%±6.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Danielson and Windsor Locks 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% |
13.6%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.7 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
11.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
9.2%±6.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Danielson and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $67,518±$8k 16% below U.S. |
$64,050±$15kLowest 21% below U.S. |
$81,205±$13kHighest about the U.S. average |
| Windsor Locks and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $301,600±$20kHighest 9% below U.S. |
$224,600±$13kLowest 32% below U.S. |
$258,800±$14k 22% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,109±$51Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,235±$194 13% below U.S. |
$1,394±$187Highest about the U.S. average |
| Windsor Locks and Danielson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,150Highest 33% above U.S. |
$4,009 29% above U.S. |
$3,688Lowest 18% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.7%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.7%±17.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
58.2%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Windsor Locks and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 13.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
21.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
53%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1954 26 yrs older than U.S. |
1951Lowest 29 yrs older than U.S. |
1961Highest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 16% above U.S. |
28 min 8% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.3%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.6%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Windsor Locks and Gardner 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 | — | #109 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Gardner | — | Windsor Locks School District |
| High school in town | Gardner High | — | Windsor Locks High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
— | 8.9Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.