Compare towns
Webster vs Windsor Locks vs Dudley 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 youngest population (median age 39.9).
Windsor Locks has the most people working from home (17.7%).
Dudley has the most expensive homes ($393k 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 | Dudley | Gardner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,748 |
12,579 |
11,929Lowest |
21,148Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.9±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
41.4±2.6 6% above U.S. |
40.2±2.4 3% above U.S. |
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 | 19.6%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
20.6%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.3%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Dudley and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.6%±2.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.9%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.6%±2.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 25.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
28.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
24.1% 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%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
13.1%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $72,895±$6k 10% below U.S. |
$81,205±$13k about the U.S. average |
$84,604±$12kHighest 5% above U.S. |
$67,518±$8kLowest 16% below U.S. |
| Dudley and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $361,500±$12k 9% above U.S. |
$258,800±$14kLowest 22% below U.S. |
$392,600±$19kHighest 18% above U.S. |
$301,600±$20k 9% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,228±$81 13% below U.S. |
$1,394±$187Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,217±$182 14% below U.S. |
$1,109±$51Lowest 22% below U.S. |
| Windsor Locks and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,999 28% above U.S. |
$3,688Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$3,691 18% above U.S. |
$4,150Highest 33% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.7%±6.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
58.2%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.4%±4.1 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 | 12.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
13.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
77.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
58.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1961 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1967Highest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1954Lowest 26 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 16% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 16% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 8%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.1%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Windsor Locks 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 | #109 of 149 in CT | #142 of 282 in MA | #273 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Webster | Windsor Locks School District | Dudley-Charlton Reg | Gardner |
| High school in town | Bartlett High School | Windsor Locks High School | Shepherd Hill Regional High | Gardner High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6 |
8.9Lowest |
14.3Highest |
13.5 |
| 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.