Compare towns
Winchendon vs Douglas vs Gardner
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Winchendon has the youngest population (median age 39.6).
Douglas has the highest household income ($152k).
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 | Winchendon | Douglas | Gardner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,440 |
9,207Lowest |
21,148Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+5.2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.6±1.9Lowest about the MA average |
44±2.6Highest 10% above MA |
43.7±2.3 9% above MA |
| Douglas and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.8%±3.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.2%±3.8 MA: 19.4% |
18.3%±2.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Winchendon and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.9%±2.7 MA: 17.9% |
15.4%±3.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.6%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Gardner and Winchendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
41.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
23.8% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±2.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
| Douglas and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $75,690±$14k 27% below MA |
$152,267±$10kHighest 46% above MA |
$67,518±$8kLowest 35% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $323,800±$19k 42% below MA |
$470,600±$29kHighest 16% below MA |
$301,600±$20kLowest 46% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,255±$163 29% below MA |
$1,503±$697Highest 15% below MA |
$1,109±$51Lowest 37% below MA |
| Douglas and Winchendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,780Lowest 37% below MA |
$6,338Highest 6% above MA |
$4,150 31% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61.7%±17.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
33.9%±17.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
49.7%±8.6 MA: 51.8% |
| Winchendon and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 18.5%Highest MA: 10% |
4.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
13.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76.6% MA: 62.5% |
83.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
58.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
1954Lowest 10 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 11% above MA |
34 minHighest 16% above MA |
31 minLowest 5% above MA |
| Work from home | 11.2%±3.1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
20.9%±4.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
13.3%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
| Douglas 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 | #269 of 282 in MA | #177 of 282 in MA | #273 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Winchendon | Douglas | Gardner |
| High school in town | Murdock High School | Douglas High School | Gardner High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.3 |
7.2Lowest |
13.5Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 6 photos → | 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.