Compare towns
Ashby vs Killingly vs Gardner
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ashby has the highest household income ($116k).
Killingly has the youngest population (median age 39.5).
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 | Ashby | Killingly | Gardner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,211Lowest |
17,867 |
21,148Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +5.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.5±3Highest 30% above U.S. |
39.5±3Lowest about the U.S. average |
43.7±2.3 12% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 17%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±2.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.3%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Killingly and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.5%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.6%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ashby and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
22.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
23.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Killingly and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $115,598±$9kHighest 43% above U.S. |
$84,350±$8k 4% above U.S. |
$67,518±$8kLowest 16% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $390,500±$30kHighest 17% above U.S. |
$288,600±$15kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$301,600±$20k 9% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,200±$484Highest 15% below U.S. |
$1,044±$141Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$1,109±$51 22% below U.S. |
| Ashby and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,034Highest 93% above U.S. |
$3,922Lowest 26% above U.S. |
$4,150 33% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.4%±53.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.8%±10.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
49.7%±8.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Gardner and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
13.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
58.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970Highest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1954Lowest 26 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 6% above U.S. |
31 min 16% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.8%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ashby 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 | #200 of 282 in MA | #136 of 149 in CT | #273 of 282 in MA |
| School district | North Middlesex | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Gardner |
| High school in town | None in town | Killingly High School | Gardner High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1Lowest |
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.