Compare towns
Webster vs Windsor 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 expensive homes ($362k median).
Windsor has the highest household income ($105k).
Gardner has the most renters (41.1% rent).
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 | Gardner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 17,748Lowest |
29,468Highest |
21,148 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +5.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.9±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
43.7±1.9Highest 12% above U.S. |
43.7±2.3Highest 12% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±2.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±2.1 U.S.: 22% |
18.3%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Webster and Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.6%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.6%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Windsor and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 25.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
43.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
23.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Windsor and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $72,895±$6k 10% below U.S. |
$104,725±$8kHighest 30% above U.S. |
$67,518±$8kLowest 16% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $361,500±$12kHighest 9% above U.S. |
$305,200±$11k 8% below U.S. |
$301,600±$20kLowest 9% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,228±$81 13% below U.S. |
$1,681±$62Highest 19% above U.S. |
$1,109±$51Lowest 22% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,999Lowest 28% above U.S. |
$5,351Highest 72% above U.S. |
$4,150 33% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.7%±6.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.9%±10.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
49.7%±8.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Gardner and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 12.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
13.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
58.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1970Highest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1954Lowest 26 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 16% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 19% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 16% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 8%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.1%±3.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #271 of 282 in MA | #117 of 149 in CT | #273 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Webster | Capitol Region Education Council · Windsor School District | Gardner |
| High school in town | Bartlett High School | Windsor High School | Gardner High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6 |
10.2Lowest |
13.5Highest |
| 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.