What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

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

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	Gardner	Ansonia
People
Population	21,148Highest	19,033Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-1.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	43.7±2.3Highest 12% above U.S.	40.1±1.6Lowest 3% 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%±2.3 U.S.: 22%	18.3%±2.8 U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	19.6%±2.2Highest U.S.: 17.2%	18.1%±2.7Lowest 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+	23.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	21.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.6%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	6.2%±1.8Highest 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	$67,518±$8kLowest 16% below U.S.	$85,877±$10kHighest 6% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$301,600±$20kHighest 9% below U.S.	$287,200±$14kLowest 14% 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	$1,109±$51Lowest 22% below U.S.	$1,476±$121Highest 4% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,150Lowest 33% above U.S.	$5,446Highest 75% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	49.7%±8.6Highest U.S.: 51.1%	39.7%±10Lowest 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	13.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	9.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	58.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	58.1%Lowest 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	31 minHighest 16% above U.S.	27 minLowest about the U.S. average
Work from home	13.3%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1%	9.1%±2.9Lowest 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	#273 of 282 in MA	#142 of 149 in CT
School district	Gardner	Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Ansonia School District
High school in town	Gardner High	Emmett O'Brien Technical High School
Students per teacherat that high school	13.5Highest	12.2Lowest
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.