Compare towns
Sterling vs Gardner vs Windsor Locks
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sterling has the most expensive homes ($499k median).
Gardner has the most renters (41.1% rent).
Windsor Locks has the shortest commute (22 min average).
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 | Sterling | Gardner | Windsor Locks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,183Lowest |
21,148Highest |
12,579 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 51.5±1.8Highest 32% above U.S. |
43.7±2.3 12% above U.S. |
41.4±2.6Lowest 6% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±4.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.3%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 22.9%±4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.6%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Sterling and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
23.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Windsor Locks and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $129,063±$27kHighest 60% above U.S. |
$67,518±$8kLowest 16% below U.S. |
$81,205±$13k about the U.S. average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $498,800±$48kHighest 50% above U.S. |
$301,600±$20k 9% below U.S. |
$258,800±$14kLowest 22% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,699±$161Highest 20% above U.S. |
$1,109±$51Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,394±$187 about the U.S. average |
| Sterling and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,757Highest 117% above U.S. |
$4,150 33% above U.S. |
$3,688Lowest 18% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46%±23.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
49.7%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
58.2%±16.8Highest 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 | 6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
13.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
58.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest same as U.S. |
1954Lowest 26 yrs older than U.S. |
1961 19 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
31 min 16% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.3%±6.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sterling 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 | #135 of 282 in MA | #273 of 282 in MA | #109 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Wachusett | Gardner | Windsor Locks School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Gardner High | Windsor Locks High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.5Highest |
8.9Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.