What stands out worked out from the figures below

Ansonia has the highest household income ($86k).

Gardner has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.2%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Ansonia	Gardner
People
Population	19,033Lowest	21,148Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-1.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+5.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	40.1±1.6Lowest 3% above U.S.	43.7±2.3Highest 12% above U.S.
	Gardner and Ansonia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18.3%±2.8 U.S.: 22%	18.3%±2.3 U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	18.1%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	19.6%±2.2Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Gardner and Ansonia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	21.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	23.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.2%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4%	4.6%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Ansonia and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$85,877±$10kHighest 6% above U.S.	$67,518±$8kLowest 16% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$287,200±$14kLowest 14% below U.S.	$301,600±$20kHighest 9% below U.S.
	Gardner and Ansonia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,476±$121Highest 4% above U.S.	$1,109±$51Lowest 22% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,446Highest 75% above U.S.	$4,150Lowest 33% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	39.7%±10Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	49.7%±8.6Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Gardner and Ansonia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	9.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	13.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	58.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	58.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1954 26 yrs older than U.S.	1954 26 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minLowest about the U.S. average	31 minHighest 16% above U.S.
Work from home	9.1%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	13.3%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Gardner and Ansonia 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	#142 of 149 in CT	#273 of 282 in MA
School district	Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Ansonia School District	Gardner
High school in town	Emmett O'Brien Technical High School	Gardner High
Students per teacherat that high school	12.2Lowest	13.5Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.