Compare towns
Gardner vs Putnam vs Windsor Locks vs Webster
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 oldest population (median age 43.7).
Putnam has the most renters (49.3% rent).
Windsor Locks has the most people working from home (17.7%).
Webster has the most expensive homes ($362k median).
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 | Windsor Locks | Webster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 21,148Highest |
7,120Lowest |
12,579 |
17,748 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±2.3Highest 12% above U.S. |
41.2±5.1 6% above U.S. |
41.4±2.6 6% above U.S. |
39.9±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Gardner and Windsor Locks 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%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±2.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Webster and Putnam 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% |
17%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.6%±2.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 23.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
18.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
25.3% 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% |
5.9%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Windsor Locks and Webster 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. |
$81,205±$13kHighest about the U.S. average |
$72,895±$6k 10% below U.S. |
| Windsor Locks and Webster 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. |
$258,800±$14k 22% below U.S. |
$361,500±$12kHighest 9% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,109±$51Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,147±$43 19% below U.S. |
$1,394±$187Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,228±$81 13% below U.S. |
| Windsor Locks and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,150Highest 33% above U.S. |
$3,564Lowest 14% above U.S. |
$3,688 18% above U.S. |
$3,999 28% 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% |
58.2%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.7%±6.7 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% |
11.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
50.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1954Lowest 26 yrs older than U.S. |
1956 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1961 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1962Highest 18 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 16% above U.S. |
25 min 5% below U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 16% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.3%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.7%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Windsor Locks 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 | #128 of 149 in CT | #109 of 149 in CT | #271 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Gardner | — | Windsor Locks School District | Webster |
| High school in town | Gardner High | — | Windsor Locks High School | Bartlett High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
— | 8.9Lowest |
11.6 |
| 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.