Compare towns
Webster vs Windsor Locks vs Clinton vs Gardner
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Webster has the most kids (21.8% under 18).
Windsor Locks has the most homeowners (77.1%).
Clinton has the most expensive homes ($387k median).
Gardner has the oldest population (median age 43.7).
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 | Webster | Windsor Locks | Clinton | Gardner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 12,228Lowest |
12,579 |
15,563 |
21,148Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +13.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.2±2.1Lowest 4% below U.S. |
41.4±2.6 6% above U.S. |
38.6±2.7 about the U.S. average |
43.7±2.3Highest 12% above U.S. |
| Gardner and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.8%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
17.8%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.3%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Webster and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 15.7%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.6%±2.2Highest 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+ | 18.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
36.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
23.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Clinton and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $63,837±$8kLowest 21% below U.S. |
$81,205±$13k about the U.S. average |
$89,781±$10kHighest 11% above U.S. |
$67,518±$8k 16% below U.S. |
| Clinton and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $333,100±$14k about the U.S. average |
$258,800±$14kLowest 22% below U.S. |
$387,300±$19kHighest 16% above U.S. |
$301,600±$20k 9% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,198±$85 15% below U.S. |
$1,394±$187 about the U.S. average |
$1,402±$76Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,109±$51Lowest 22% below U.S. |
| Clinton and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,234Lowest 4% above U.S. |
$3,688 18% above U.S. |
$4,654Highest 49% above U.S. |
$4,150 33% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.1%±7.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
58.2%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40.3%±6.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
49.7%±8.6 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 | 16%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
13.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 45.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
54.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
58.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1954Lowest 26 yrs older than U.S. |
1961Highest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1956 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1954Lowest 26 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 4% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
30 min 13% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 16% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 7.1%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.2%±4.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Windsor Locks and Clinton 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 | #271 of 282 in MA | #109 of 149 in CT | #246 of 282 in MA | #273 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Windsor Locks School District | Clinton | Gardner |
| High school in town | — | Windsor Locks High School | Clinton Senior High | Gardner High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.9Lowest |
12.8 |
13.5Highest |
| 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.