Compare towns
Halifax vs Gardner vs Windsor Locks vs Pembroke
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Halifax has the most kids (22.2% under 18).
Gardner has the most renters (41.1% rent).
Windsor Locks has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Pembroke has the highest household income ($146k).
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 | Halifax | Gardner | Windsor Locks | Pembroke |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,748Lowest |
21,148Highest |
12,579 |
18,382 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +2.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.9±4.7 8% above U.S. |
43.7±2.3 12% above U.S. |
41.4±2.6Lowest 6% above U.S. |
45.5±3.3Highest 17% above U.S. |
| Pembroke and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.2%±5.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.3%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
19.3%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Halifax and Pembroke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.8%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.6%±2.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.4%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Gardner and Pembroke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
23.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Windsor Locks and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $118,556±$11k 47% above U.S. |
$67,518±$8kLowest 16% below U.S. |
$81,205±$13k about the U.S. average |
$146,285±$17kHighest 81% above U.S. |
| Pembroke and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $481,500±$51k 45% above U.S. |
$301,600±$20k 9% below U.S. |
$258,800±$14kLowest 22% below U.S. |
$586,500±$28kHighest 76% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,804±$375 28% above U.S. |
$1,109±$51Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,394±$187 about the U.S. average |
$2,464±$753Highest 74% above U.S. |
| Pembroke and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,840Highest 119% above U.S. |
$4,150 33% above U.S. |
$3,688Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$6,585 111% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.6%±37.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
49.7%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
58.2%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.1%±5.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Windsor Locks and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
13.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
58.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1954Lowest 26 yrs older than U.S. |
1961 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
31 min 16% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
35 min 31% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.9%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.2%±5.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Pembroke 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 | #120 of 282 in MA | #273 of 282 in MA | #109 of 149 in CT | #82 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Halifax | Gardner | Windsor Locks School District | Pembroke |
| High school in town | None in town | Gardner High | Windsor Locks High School | Pembroke High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.5Highest |
8.9Lowest |
12.3 |
| 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.