Compare towns
Windsor Locks vs Gardner vs Windsor Locks
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
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 | Windsor Locks | Gardner | Windsor Locks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 12,579Lowest |
21,148Highest |
12,579Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +5.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.4±2.6Lowest 6% above U.S. |
43.7±2.3Highest 12% above U.S. |
41.4±2.6Lowest 6% 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 | 18.6%±3.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.3%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 18.2%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.6%±2.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.7Lowest 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+ | 28.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
23.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $81,205±$13kHighest about the U.S. average |
$67,518±$8kLowest 16% below U.S. |
$81,205±$13kHighest about the U.S. average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $258,800±$14kLowest 22% below U.S. |
$301,600±$20kHighest 9% below U.S. |
$258,800±$14kLowest 22% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,394±$187Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,109±$51Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,394±$187Highest about the U.S. average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,688Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$4,150Highest 33% above U.S. |
$3,688Lowest 18% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58.2%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
49.7%±8.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
58.2%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 10.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
13.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
58.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961Highest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1954Lowest 26 yrs older than U.S. |
1961Highest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 16% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.7%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #109 of 149 in CT | #273 of 282 in MA | #109 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Windsor Locks School District | Gardner | — |
| High school in town | Windsor Locks High School | Gardner High | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.9Lowest |
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.