Compare towns
Gardner vs Putnam vs Windsor Locks vs Westminster
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 housing (typical home built 1954).
Putnam has the most renters (49.3% rent).
Windsor Locks has the most people working from home (17.7%).
Westminster has the most expensive homes ($422k 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 | Westminster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 21,148Highest |
7,120Lowest |
12,579 |
8,374 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +12.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±2.3 12% above U.S. |
41.2±5.1Lowest 6% above U.S. |
41.4±2.6 6% above U.S. |
48.3±4.6Highest 24% above U.S. |
| Westminster and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.3%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±4.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Westminster and Putnam 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% |
17%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
26%±5.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Westminster 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
18.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
45.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.8%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Windsor Locks 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. |
$81,205±$13k about the U.S. average |
$106,331±$22kHighest 32% above U.S. |
| Westminster and Windsor Locks 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. |
$422,000±$36kHighest 27% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,109±$51Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,147±$43 19% below U.S. |
$1,394±$187 about the U.S. average |
$1,843±$268Highest 30% above U.S. |
| Westminster 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. |
$3,564Lowest 14% above U.S. |
$3,688 18% above U.S. |
$4,973Highest 59% 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%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
60%±27.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Westminster and Windsor Locks 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
50.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.6%Highest 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. |
1977Highest 3 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. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| 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% |
12.5%±4.2 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 | #112 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Gardner | — | Windsor Locks School District | Ashburnham-Westminster |
| High school in town | Gardner High | — | Windsor Locks High School | Oakmont Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5 |
— | 8.9Lowest |
13.6Highest |
| 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.