Compare towns
Gardner vs Windsor Locks vs Spencer 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).
Windsor Locks has the most homeowners (77.1%).
Spencer has the oldest population (median age 48.9).
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 | Windsor Locks | Spencer | Easthampton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 21,148Highest |
12,579 |
12,008Lowest |
16,086 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 43.7±2.3 12% above U.S. |
41.4±2.6Lowest 6% above U.S. |
48.9±6.8Highest 26% above U.S. |
46±2.6 18% above U.S. |
| Spencer and Easthampton 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% |
18.6%±3.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.4%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
15.5%±2.4Lowest 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% |
18.2%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.9%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Spencer and Easthampton 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% |
29.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
38%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Easthampton and Windsor Locks 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±$13kHighest about the U.S. average |
$80,533±$11k about the U.S. average |
$71,673±$7k 11% below U.S. |
| Windsor Locks and Spencer 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. |
$382,000±$22kHighest 15% above U.S. |
$371,500±$15k 12% above U.S. |
| Spencer and Easthampton 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. |
$1,394±$187Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,078±$161Lowest 24% below U.S. |
$1,292±$70 9% below U.S. |
| Windsor Locks and Easthampton 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. |
$4,387 41% above U.S. |
$4,932Highest 58% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.7%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
58.2%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±10.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
45.5%±10.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Windsor Locks and Spencer 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% |
11% U.S.: 12.5% |
8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
77.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
63% U.S.: 65.2% |
58.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1954Lowest 26 yrs older than U.S. |
1961 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1968Highest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1966 14 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 16% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
22 min 16% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.3%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
15%±7.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±3.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Easthampton and Windsor Locks 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 | #261 of 282 in MA | #92 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Gardner | Windsor Locks School District | Spencer-E Brookfield | Easthampton |
| High school in town | Gardner High | Windsor Locks High School | David Prouty High | Easthampton High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
8.9Lowest |
9.9 |
9.8 |
| 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.