Compare towns
Gardner vs Windsor Locks vs Pomfret vs Templeton
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).
Windsor Locks has the most affordable homes ($259k median).
Pomfret has the most expensive homes ($409k median).
Templeton has the most homeowners (85.3%).
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 Locks | Pomfret | Templeton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 21,148Highest |
12,579 |
4,317Lowest |
8,252 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — | +1.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±2.3 12% above U.S. |
41.4±2.6 6% above U.S. |
45.9±3.7Highest 18% above U.S. |
40.3±5.1Lowest 4% above U.S. |
| Pomfret 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% |
18.6%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
23.1%±4.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
22.9%±5.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Pomfret and Templeton 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% |
18.2%±2.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.8%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.7%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Gardner and Windsor Locks 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% |
28.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
50.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
26.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Windsor Locks and Pomfret 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. |
$81,205±$13k about the U.S. average |
$108,476±$8kHighest 34% above U.S. |
$101,154±$15k 25% above U.S. |
| Pomfret and Templeton 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. |
$258,800±$14kLowest 22% below U.S. |
$409,100±$28kHighest 23% above U.S. |
$358,500±$12k 8% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,109±$51Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,394±$187Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,210±$300 14% below U.S. |
$1,207±$353 15% below U.S. |
| Windsor Locks and Pomfret 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. |
$3,688Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$5,903Highest 89% above U.S. |
$4,554 46% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.7%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
58.2%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
61.9%±15.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.7%±26.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Pomfret 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% |
10.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1954Lowest 26 yrs older than U.S. |
1961 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 16% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
24 min 11% below U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.3%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.2%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.9%±5.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Windsor Locks and Templeton 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 | #109 of 149 in CT | #39 of 149 in CT | #244 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Gardner | Windsor Locks School District | Pomfret School District | Narragansett |
| High school in town | Gardner High | Windsor Locks High School | None in town | Narragansett Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
8.9Lowest |
— | 12.2 |
| 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.