Compare towns
Gardner vs Windsor vs Windsor Locks vs North Adams
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Windsor has the highest household income ($105k).
Windsor Locks has the most people working from home (17.7%).
North Adams has the most affordable homes ($196k 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 | Windsor | Windsor Locks | North Adams |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 21,148 |
29,468Highest |
12,579Lowest |
12,606 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — | -5.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±2.3 12% above U.S. |
43.7±1.9 12% above U.S. |
41.4±2.6Lowest 6% above U.S. |
44.1±3.5Highest 13% above U.S. |
| North Adams 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% |
19.2%±2.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
15.7%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Windsor and Windsor Locks 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% |
20%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.6%±2.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| North Adams and Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 23.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
28.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
9.8%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $67,518±$8k 16% below U.S. |
$104,725±$8kHighest 30% above U.S. |
$81,205±$13k about the U.S. average |
$47,500±$7kLowest 41% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $301,600±$20k 9% below U.S. |
$305,200±$11kHighest 8% below U.S. |
$258,800±$14k 22% below U.S. |
$195,900±$14kLowest 41% below U.S. |
| Windsor and Gardner 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. |
$1,681±$62Highest 19% above U.S. |
$1,394±$187 about the U.S. average |
$793±$113Lowest 44% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,150 33% above U.S. |
$5,351Highest 72% above U.S. |
$3,688 18% above U.S. |
$3,078Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.7%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.9%±10.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
58.2%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
63.7%±11Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| North Adams 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
18.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
51%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1954 26 yrs older than U.S. |
1970Highest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1961 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 16% above U.S. |
21 min 19% below U.S. |
22 min 17% below U.S. |
17 minLowest 34% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.3%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.1%±3.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.2%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Windsor Locks and Windsor 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 | #117 of 149 in CT | #109 of 149 in CT | #268 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Gardner | Capitol Region Education Council · Windsor School District | Windsor Locks School District | North Adams · Northern Berkshire Regional Vocational Technical |
| High school in town | Gardner High | Windsor High School | Windsor Locks High School | Charles McCann Vocational Technical |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
10.2 |
8.9Lowest |
10.6 |
| 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.