Compare towns
Hanson vs Gardner vs Windsor vs Oakham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hanson has the most kids (25% under 18).
Gardner has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.2%).
Windsor has the most people working from home (21.2%).
Oakham has the oldest population (median age 49).
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 | Hanson | Gardner | Windsor | Oakham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,927 |
21,148Highest |
1,065Lowest |
1,639 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.2% MA: +7.4% |
+5.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-7.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
-2.7% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44±4.3 10% above MA |
43.7±2.3Lowest 9% above MA |
44.8±6.4 12% above MA |
49±2.3Highest 23% above MA |
| Oakham and Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 25%±5.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.3%±2.3 MA: 19.4% |
15.8%±5.1Lowest MA: 19.4% |
18.2%±3.1 MA: 19.4% |
| Hanson and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.7%±4.5 MA: 17.9% |
19.6%±2.2 MA: 17.9% |
18.6%±4.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.4%±2.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Oakham and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.1% MA: 47.3% |
23.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
41.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
40.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.5%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.7%±1.7 MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±2.1 MA: 7.9% |
| Gardner and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $119,211±$24kHighest 15% above MA |
$67,518±$8kLowest 35% below MA |
$115,563±$10k 11% above MA |
$102,000±$20k about the MA average |
| Hanson and Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $513,000±$55kHighest 9% below MA |
$301,600±$20kLowest 46% below MA |
$389,700±$32k 31% below MA |
$420,100±$20k 25% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,109±$51Lowest 37% below MA |
— | $1,174±$81Highest 33% below MA |
| Oakham and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,429Highest 7% above MA |
$4,150 31% below MA |
$3,867Lowest 35% below MA |
$4,103 32% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | — | 49.7%±8.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
0%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±69.1 MA: 51.8% |
| Gardner and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
13.7%Highest MA: 10% |
3.8% MA: 10% |
4.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 100%Highest MA: 62.5% |
58.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
96.2% MA: 62.5% |
91.6% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
1954Lowest 10 yrs older than MA |
1970 6 yrs newer than MA |
1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 37 min 26% above MA |
31 minLowest 5% above MA |
37 min 27% above MA |
39 minHighest 32% above MA |
| Work from home | 11.2%±5.6 MA: 18.6% |
13.3%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
21.2%±5.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
9.6%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Windsor 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 | #149 of 282 in MA | #273 of 282 in MA | — | — |
| School district | — | Gardner | — | Quabbin |
| High school in town | — | Gardner High | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.5 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
MA 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.