Compare towns
Gardner vs Killingly vs Lancaster vs Westminster
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Gardner has the most renters (41.1% rent).
Killingly has the youngest population (median age 39.5).
Lancaster has the most people working from home (33.6%).
Westminster has the oldest population (median age 48.3).
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 | Gardner | Killingly | Lancaster | Westminster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 21,148Highest |
17,867 |
8,606 |
8,374Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +4.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±2.3 12% above U.S. |
39.5±3Lowest about the U.S. average |
43.1±4.9 11% above U.S. |
48.3±4.6Highest 24% above U.S. |
| Westminster and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.3%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±4 U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±4.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Westminster and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.6%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.9%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
26%±5.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Westminster and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 23.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
22.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
50.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.8%±1.2Lowest 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 | $67,518±$8kLowest 16% below U.S. |
$84,350±$8k 4% above U.S. |
$134,833±$27kHighest 67% above U.S. |
$106,331±$22k 32% above U.S. |
| Lancaster and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $301,600±$20k 9% below U.S. |
$288,600±$15kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$519,100±$60kHighest 56% above U.S. |
$422,000±$36k 27% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,109±$51 22% below U.S. |
$1,044±$141Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$2,338±$539Highest 65% above U.S. |
$1,843±$268 30% above U.S. |
| Lancaster and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,150 33% above U.S. |
$3,922Lowest 26% above U.S. |
$7,235Highest 132% above U.S. |
$4,973 59% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.7%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
42.8%±10.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
68.3%±36.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
60%±27.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lancaster and Westminster 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% |
11.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1954Lowest 26 yrs older than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 16% above U.S. |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 13.3%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
33.6%±9.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.5%±4.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #273 of 282 in MA | #136 of 149 in CT | #145 of 282 in MA | #112 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Gardner | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Nashoba | Ashburnham-Westminster |
| High school in town | Gardner High | Killingly High School | None in town | Oakmont Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5 |
11.1Lowest |
— | 13.6Highest |
| 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.