Compare towns
Gardner vs Halifax vs Windsor Locks vs Spencer
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).
Halifax has the highest household income ($119k).
Windsor Locks has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Spencer has the oldest population (median age 48.9).
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 | Halifax | Windsor Locks | Spencer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 21,148Highest |
7,748Lowest |
12,579 |
12,008 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±2.3 12% above U.S. |
41.9±4.7 8% above U.S. |
41.4±2.6Lowest 6% above U.S. |
48.9±6.8Highest 26% above U.S. |
| Spencer and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.3%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
16.4%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Halifax and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.6%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Spencer and Gardner 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% |
36.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
29.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Windsor Locks and Spencer 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. |
$118,556±$11kHighest 47% above U.S. |
$81,205±$13k about the U.S. average |
$80,533±$11k about the U.S. average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $301,600±$20k 9% below U.S. |
$481,500±$51kHighest 45% above U.S. |
$258,800±$14kLowest 22% below U.S. |
$382,000±$22k 15% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,109±$51 22% below U.S. |
$1,804±$375Highest 28% above U.S. |
$1,394±$187 about the U.S. average |
$1,078±$161Lowest 24% below U.S. |
| Halifax 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. |
$6,840Highest 119% above U.S. |
$3,688Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$4,387 41% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.7%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
45.6%±37.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
58.2%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±10.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Windsor Locks and Spencer 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% |
2.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
11% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
63% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1954Lowest 26 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1961 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 16% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
34 min 30% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.3%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.9%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15%±7.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Windsor Locks and Spencer 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 | #120 of 282 in MA | #109 of 149 in CT | #261 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Gardner | Halifax | Windsor Locks School District | Spencer-E Brookfield |
| High school in town | Gardner High | None in town | Windsor Locks High School | David Prouty High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
— | 8.9Lowest |
9.9 |
| 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.