Compare towns
Gardner vs Plainfield vs Windsor vs Spencer
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%).
Plainfield has the most people working from home (26.2%).
Windsor has the highest household income ($116k).
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 | Plainfield | Windsor | Spencer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 21,148Highest |
616Lowest |
1,065 |
12,008 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-2.3% MA: +7.4% |
-7.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±2.3Lowest 9% above MA |
50.6±9.5Highest 27% above MA |
44.8±6.4 12% above MA |
48.9±6.8 22% above MA |
| Plainfield and Spencer 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% |
19%±9.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
15.8%±5.1Lowest MA: 19.4% |
16.4%±3.9 MA: 19.4% |
| Plainfield 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% |
29.5%±7.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.6%±4.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
26%±4.4 MA: 17.9% |
| Plainfield and Spencer 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% |
52.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
41.5% MA: 47.3% |
29.1% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±2.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.2%±2.4 MA: 7.9% |
| Plainfield 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±$8k 35% below MA |
$63,500±$14kLowest 39% below MA |
$115,563±$10kHighest 11% above MA |
$80,533±$11k 23% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $301,600±$20kLowest 46% below MA |
$309,000±$47k 45% below MA |
$389,700±$32kHighest 31% below MA |
$382,000±$22k 32% below MA |
| Windsor and Spencer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,109±$51 37% below MA |
$1,292±$558Highest 27% below MA |
— | $1,078±$161Lowest 39% below MA |
| Plainfield and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,150 31% below MA |
$4,458Highest 26% below MA |
$3,867Lowest 35% below MA |
$4,387 27% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.7%±8.6 MA: 51.8% |
40%±100 MA: 51.8% |
0%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
50.6%±10.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Spencer and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 13.7% MA: 10% |
16.9%Highest MA: 10% |
3.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
11% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
98%Highest MA: 62.5% |
96.2% MA: 62.5% |
63% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1954Lowest 10 yrs older than MA |
1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA |
1970 6 yrs newer than MA |
1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minLowest 5% above MA |
38 minHighest 30% above MA |
37 min 27% above MA |
34 min 18% above MA |
| Work from home | 13.3%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
26.2%±8.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
21.2%±5.8 MA: 18.6% |
15%±7.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Plainfield and Windsor 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 | — | — | #261 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Gardner | — | — | Spencer-E Brookfield |
| High school in town | Gardner High | — | — | David Prouty High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
— | — | 9.9Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.