Compare towns
Gardner vs Douglas 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 renters (41.1% rent).
Douglas has the highest household income ($152k).
Windsor Locks has the shortest commute (22 min average).
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 | Douglas | Windsor Locks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 21,148Highest |
9,207Lowest |
12,579 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 43.7±2.3 12% above U.S. |
44±2.6Highest 13% above U.S. |
41.4±2.6Lowest 6% above U.S. |
| Douglas 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% |
21.2%±3.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Douglas 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% |
15.4%±3.1Lowest 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Windsor Locks and Douglas 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. |
$152,267±$10kHighest 89% above U.S. |
$81,205±$13k about the U.S. average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $301,600±$20k 9% below U.S. |
$470,600±$29kHighest 41% above U.S. |
$258,800±$14kLowest 22% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,109±$51Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,503±$697Highest 6% above U.S. |
$1,394±$187 about the U.S. average |
| Douglas 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. |
$6,338Highest 103% above U.S. |
$3,688Lowest 18% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.7%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
33.9%±17.4Lowest 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%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1954Lowest 26 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1961 19 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 16% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 28% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.3%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.9%±4.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Douglas and Windsor Locks 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 | #177 of 282 in MA | #109 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Gardner | Douglas | Windsor Locks School District |
| High school in town | Gardner High | Douglas High School | Windsor Locks High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
7.2Lowest |
8.9 |
| 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.