Compare towns
Gardner vs Windham vs Webster vs Easthampton
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).
Windham has the most affordable homes ($210k median).
Webster has the highest household income ($73k).
Easthampton has the most people working from home (19%).
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 | Windham | Webster | Easthampton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 21,148 |
23,961Highest |
17,748 |
16,086Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 43.7±2.3 12% above U.S. |
33.7±1.9Lowest 13% below U.S. |
39.9±2.9 about the U.S. average |
46±2.6Highest 18% above U.S. |
| Easthampton and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.3%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
20.1%±2.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
15.5%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Windham and Webster 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% |
14.3%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.6%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
23.9%±3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Easthampton 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% |
22.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
25.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
38%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
15.2%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $67,518±$8k 16% below U.S. |
$55,736±$5kLowest 31% below U.S. |
$72,895±$6kHighest 10% below U.S. |
$71,673±$7k 11% below U.S. |
| Webster and Easthampton 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. |
$209,800±$9kLowest 37% below U.S. |
$361,500±$12k 9% above U.S. |
$371,500±$15kHighest 12% above U.S. |
| Easthampton and Webster 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. |
$1,107±$69Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,228±$81 13% below U.S. |
$1,292±$70Highest 9% below U.S. |
| Easthampton and Webster 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. |
$4,633 49% above U.S. |
$3,999Lowest 28% above U.S. |
$4,932Highest 58% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.7%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±8.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.7%±6.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
45.5%±10.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Windham and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 13.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
20.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
47.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
58.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1954Lowest 26 yrs older than U.S. |
1956 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1962 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1966Highest 14 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 16% above U.S. |
24 min 8% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 16% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 16% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.3%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.1%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
8%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±3.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Easthampton 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 | #143 of 149 in CT | #271 of 282 in MA | #92 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Gardner | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Webster | Easthampton |
| High school in town | Gardner High | Windham High School | Bartlett High School | Easthampton High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
9.8Lowest |
11.6 |
9.8Lowest |
| 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.