Compare towns
Ashburnham vs Derby vs Gardner vs Killingly
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ashburnham has the highest household income ($119k).
Derby has the most affordable homes ($257k median).
Gardner has the most renters (41.1% rent).
Killingly has the youngest population (median age 39.5).
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 | Ashburnham | Derby | Gardner | Killingly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,415Lowest |
12,487 |
21,148Highest |
17,867 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 40.7±6.3 5% above U.S. |
46.4±3.1Highest 19% above U.S. |
43.7±2.3 12% above U.S. |
39.5±3Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Derby and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.6%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.3%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Ashburnham and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.1%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.1%±3.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.6%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Derby and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
23.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
22.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Derby and Ashburnham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $118,809±$11kHighest 47% above U.S. |
$79,500±$11k about the U.S. average |
$67,518±$8kLowest 16% below U.S. |
$84,350±$8k 4% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $390,700±$34kHighest 17% above U.S. |
$256,700±$21kLowest 23% below U.S. |
$301,600±$20k 9% below U.S. |
$288,600±$15k 13% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,807±$1kHighest 28% above U.S. |
$1,452±$95 about the U.S. average |
$1,109±$51 22% below U.S. |
$1,044±$141Lowest 26% below U.S. |
| Ashburnham and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,046Highest 94% above U.S. |
$5,510 77% above U.S. |
$4,150 33% above U.S. |
$3,922Lowest 26% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.9%±12.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
49.7%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
42.8%±10.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ashburnham and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
13.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
61.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
58.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1954Lowest 26 yrs older than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 21% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
31 min 16% above U.S. |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16%±7.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.1%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ashburnham and Derby 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 | #178 of 282 in MA | #138 of 149 in CT | #273 of 282 in MA | #136 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Ashburnham-Westminster | Derby School District | Gardner | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS |
| High school in town | None in town | Derby High School | Gardner High | Killingly High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.7Lowest |
13.5Highest |
11.1 |
| 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.