Compare towns
Gardner vs Hanson vs Windsor
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Gardner has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.2%).
Hanson has the most kids (25% under 18).
Windsor has the most people working from home (21.2%).
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 | Hanson | Windsor |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 21,148Highest |
1,927 |
1,065Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-4.2% MA: +7.4% |
-7.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±2.3Lowest 9% above MA |
44±4.3 10% above MA |
44.8±6.4Highest 12% above MA |
| Windsor and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.3%±2.3 MA: 19.4% |
25%±5.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
15.8%±5.1Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Hanson and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.6%±2.2 MA: 17.9% |
19.7%±4.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.6%±4.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Hanson 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 MA: 47.3% |
35.1% MA: 47.3% |
41.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
0.5%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
2.7%±1.7 MA: 7.9% |
| Gardner and Windsor 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 35% below MA |
$119,211±$24kHighest 15% above MA |
$115,563±$10k 11% above MA |
| Hanson and Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $301,600±$20kLowest 46% below MA |
$513,000±$55kHighest 9% below MA |
$389,700±$32k 31% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,109±$51 37% below MA |
— | — |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,150 31% below MA |
$6,429Highest 7% above MA |
$3,867Lowest 35% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.7%±8.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
— | 0%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Gardner and Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 13.7%Highest MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
3.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
100%Highest MA: 62.5% |
96.2% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1954Lowest 10 yrs older than MA |
1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
1970Highest 6 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minLowest 5% above MA |
37 min 26% above MA |
37 minHighest 27% above MA |
| Work from home | 13.3%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
11.2%±5.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
21.2%±5.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Windsor 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 | #149 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Gardner | — | — |
| High school in town | Gardner High | — | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
MA 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.