Compare towns
Ashburnham vs Gardner vs Killingly vs Thompson
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 most expensive homes ($391k median).
Gardner has the most renters (41.1% rent).
Killingly has the shortest commute (28 min average).
Thompson has the oldest population (median age 54.1).
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 | Gardner | Killingly | Thompson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,415Lowest |
21,148Highest |
17,867 |
9,337 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 40.7±6.3 5% above U.S. |
43.7±2.3 12% above U.S. |
39.5±3Lowest about the U.S. average |
54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 22.6%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.3%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest 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% |
19.6%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Thompson 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% |
23.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
22.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
21.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Ashburnham and Killingly 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. |
$67,518±$8kLowest 16% below U.S. |
$84,350±$8k 4% above U.S. |
$93,629±$18k 16% above U.S. |
| Ashburnham and Thompson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $390,700±$34kHighest 17% above U.S. |
$301,600±$20k 9% below U.S. |
$288,600±$15kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$291,900±$24k 12% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,807±$1kHighest 28% above U.S. |
$1,109±$51 22% below U.S. |
$1,044±$141 26% below U.S. |
$1,012±$344Lowest 28% below U.S. |
| Ashburnham and Gardner 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. |
$4,150 33% above U.S. |
$3,922 26% above U.S. |
$3,822Lowest 23% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
49.7%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
42.8%±10.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54%±18.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ashburnham and Thompson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
13.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
58.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1954Lowest 26 yrs older than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 21% above U.S. |
31 min 16% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 6% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16%±7.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ashburnham 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 | #178 of 282 in MA | #273 of 282 in MA | #136 of 149 in CT | #130 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Ashburnham-Westminster | Gardner | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Thompson School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Gardner High | Killingly High School | Tourtellotte Memorial High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.5Highest |
11.1 |
7.9Lowest |
| 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.