Compare towns
Brooklyn vs Gardner vs Killingly vs Torrington
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brooklyn has the most homeowners (81.7%).
Gardner has the most people working from home (13.3%).
Killingly has the youngest population (median age 39.5).
Torrington has the most affordable homes ($216k median).
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 | Brooklyn | Gardner | Killingly | Torrington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,517Lowest |
21,148 |
17,867 |
35,547Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +5.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -2.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.6±2.5Highest 17% above U.S. |
43.7±2.3 12% above U.S. |
39.5±3Lowest about the U.S. average |
42.9±1.8 10% above U.S. |
| Brooklyn and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.6%±4.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.3%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
17.9%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Brooklyn and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.6%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.6%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±2.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.2%±1.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Killingly and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 23.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
23.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
22.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
24.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.7%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $96,207±$15kHighest 19% above U.S. |
$67,518±$8kLowest 16% below U.S. |
$84,350±$8k 4% above U.S. |
$70,856±$5k 12% below U.S. |
| Brooklyn and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $315,200±$28kHighest 5% below U.S. |
$301,600±$20k 9% below U.S. |
$288,600±$15k 13% below U.S. |
$215,500±$8kLowest 35% below U.S. |
| Brooklyn and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$98 20% below U.S. |
$1,109±$51 22% below U.S. |
$1,044±$141Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$1,169±$43Highest 17% below U.S. |
| Torrington and Brooklyn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,538 45% above U.S. |
$4,150 33% above U.S. |
$3,922Lowest 26% above U.S. |
$5,042Highest 62% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.5%±19.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
49.7%±8.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.8%±10.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
48%±6.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Gardner and Torrington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
13.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
13.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
58.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
66.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1954Lowest 26 yrs older than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1960 20 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
31 minHighest 16% above U.S. |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 5% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.7%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±2.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Gardner and Killingly 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 | #113 of 149 in CT | #273 of 282 in MA | #136 of 149 in CT | #132 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Brooklyn School District | Gardner | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Torrington School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Gardner High | Killingly High School | Torrington High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.5Highest |
11.1Lowest |
11.9 |
| 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.


