Compare towns
Gardner vs Putnam vs West Springfield Town
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.2%).
Putnam has the most affordable homes ($245k median).
West Springfield Town has the shortest commute (19 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 | Putnam | West Springfield Town |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 21,148 |
7,120Lowest |
28,772Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±2.3Highest 12% above U.S. |
41.2±5.1 6% above U.S. |
40.1±2.6Lowest 3% above U.S. |
| Gardner and Putnam 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%±4.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±2.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 19.6%±2.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.5%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Gardner and West Springfield Town 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% |
18.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
34%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| West Springfield Town and Gardner 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. |
$65,511±$7kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$69,371±$7kHighest 14% below U.S. |
| West Springfield Town 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±$20k 9% below U.S. |
$245,100±$13kLowest 26% below U.S. |
$321,500±$16kHighest 3% below U.S. |
| West Springfield Town and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,109±$51Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,147±$43Highest 19% below U.S. |
$1,144±$68 19% below U.S. |
| Putnam and West Springfield Town 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. |
$3,564Lowest 14% above U.S. |
$4,380Highest 40% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.7%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
38.2%±12.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
60.1%±9.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| West Springfield Town 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% |
11.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
50.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
58.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1954Lowest 26 yrs older than U.S. |
1956 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1958Highest 22 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 16% above U.S. |
25 min 5% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.3%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.7%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.4%±2.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Gardner and West Springfield Town 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 | #128 of 149 in CT | #218 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Gardner | — | West Springfield |
| High school in town | Gardner High | — | West Springfield High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
— | 13.1Lowest |
| 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.