Compare towns
Windham vs Gardner vs Townshend vs Worcester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Windham has the highest household income ($95k).
Gardner has the most renters (41.1% rent).
Townshend has the most people working from home (28%).
Worcester has the most affordable homes ($271k median).
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 | Windham | Gardner | Townshend | Worcester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 594Lowest |
21,148Highest |
1,538 |
831 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +5.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.2±7.4 14% above U.S. |
43.7±2.3Lowest 12% above U.S. |
55.6±9.6Highest 43% above U.S. |
47±2.7 21% above U.S. |
| Townshend and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.5%±7.9 U.S.: 22% |
18.3%±2.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
12%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
12.8%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Gardner and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 23.2%±8.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.6%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.3%±6.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Windham and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
23.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
52.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
53%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.4%±0.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±4.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Worcester and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $94,500±$12kHighest 17% above U.S. |
$67,518±$8kLowest 16% below U.S. |
$78,750±$29k about the U.S. average |
$73,833±$18k 9% below U.S. |
| Windham and Townshend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $353,900±$20kHighest 6% above U.S. |
$301,600±$20k 9% below U.S. |
$287,200±$79k 14% below U.S. |
$271,100±$27kLowest 19% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,109±$51Highest 22% below U.S. |
$1,074±$80 24% below U.S. |
$1,023±$136Lowest 28% below U.S. |
| Gardner and Townshend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,951Highest 91% above U.S. |
$4,150Lowest 33% above U.S. |
$5,364 72% above U.S. |
$4,421 42% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.2%±94 U.S.: 51.1% |
49.7%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
72.5%±23.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
25.5%±37Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Townshend and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
13.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
58.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1954Lowest 26 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
31 minHighest 16% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 5% below U.S. |
29 min 9% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.5%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
28%±18.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.6%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Townshend and Worcester 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 | — | #273 of 282 in MA | — | — |
| School district | — | Gardner | West River Valley Union Education District #72B · West River Valley Union Education District #72A | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | — | Gardner High | Leland & Gray Union Middle & High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.5Highest |
8.1Lowest |
— |
| 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.