Compare towns

Gardner vs Killingly vs Lisbon

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 people working from home (13.3%).
Killingly has the youngest population (median age 39.5).
Lisbon has the most homeowners (97.9%).

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.

MeasureGardnerKillinglyLisbon
People
Population
21,148Highest
17,867
4,211Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+5.2%
U.S.: +7.4%
— —
Median age
43.7±2.3
12% above U.S.
39.5±3Lowest
about the U.S. average
44.5±5.2Highest
14% above U.S.
Lisbon 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%
22.1%±6.4Highest
U.S.: 22%
Lisbon 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%
21.3%±4.3Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Lisbon and Killingly 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%
22.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
19.2%Lowest
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%
4.2%±2.1Lowest
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.
$92,708±$12kHighest
15% above U.S.
Lisbon and Killingly 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.
$315,700±$26kHighest
5% below U.S.
Lisbon and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,109±$51Highest
22% below U.S.
$1,044±$141Lowest
26% below U.S.
—
Gardner and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,150Highest
33% above U.S.
$3,922Lowest
26% above U.S.
$4,044
30% 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%
100%±75.1Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Lisbon and Gardner 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%
6.6%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
58.9%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
71.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
97.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1954Lowest
26 yrs older than U.S.
1968
12 yrs older than U.S.
1976Highest
4 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
31 min
16% above U.S.
28 minLowest
6% above U.S.
32 minHighest
20% above U.S.
Work from home
13.3%±3.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
11.1%±2.3
U.S.: 15.1%
8.3%±3.4Lowest
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 #273 of 282 in MA #136 of 149 in CT #102 of 149 in CT
School district Gardner Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS Lisbon School District
High school in town Gardner High Killingly High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
13.5Highest
11.1Lowest
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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.