Compare towns
Gardner vs Thompson vs Windsor Locks
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 most renters (41.1% rent).
Thompson has the oldest population (median age 54.1).
Windsor Locks has the most people working from home (17.7%).
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 | Thompson | Windsor Locks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 21,148Highest |
9,337Lowest |
12,579 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 43.7±2.3 12% above U.S. |
54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S. |
41.4±2.6Lowest 6% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 18.3%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Windsor Locks 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Thompson 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% |
21.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.8Highest 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±$8kLowest 16% below U.S. |
$93,629±$18kHighest 16% above U.S. |
$81,205±$13k about the U.S. average |
| Thompson 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±$20kHighest 9% below U.S. |
$291,900±$24k 12% below U.S. |
$258,800±$14kLowest 22% below U.S. |
| Gardner and Thompson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,109±$51 22% below U.S. |
$1,012±$344Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,394±$187Highest about the U.S. average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,150Highest 33% above U.S. |
$3,822 23% above U.S. |
$3,688Lowest 18% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.7%±8.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54%±18.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
58.2%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Windsor Locks and Thompson 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% |
5.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1954Lowest 26 yrs older than U.S. |
1963Highest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1961 19 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 16% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.3%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±3.7Highest 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 | #130 of 149 in CT | #109 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Gardner | Thompson School District | Windsor Locks School District |
| High school in town | Gardner High | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | Windsor Locks High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
7.9Lowest |
8.9 |
| 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.