Compare towns

Gardner vs Killingly vs North Adams

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 highest household income ($84k).
North Adams has the shortest commute (17 min average).

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.

MeasureGardnerKillinglyNorth Adams
People
Population
21,148Highest
17,867
12,606Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+5.2%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
—
-5.4%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
43.7±2.3
12% above U.S.
39.5±3Lowest
about the U.S. average
44.1±3.5Highest
13% above U.S.
North Adams and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
18.3%±2.3
U.S.: 22%
19.8%±2.3Highest
U.S.: 22%
15.7%±2.9Lowest
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+
19.6%±2.2Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
19.7%±2.4
U.S.: 17.2%
21.6%±2.6Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
North Adams 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%
U.S.: 35.7%
22.9%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
28.4%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.6%±1.3Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.4%±1.9
U.S.: 6.4%
9.8%±2Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$67,518±$8k
16% below U.S.
$84,350±$8kHighest
4% above U.S.
$47,500±$7kLowest
41% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$301,600±$20kHighest
9% below U.S.
$288,600±$15k
13% below U.S.
$195,900±$14kLowest
41% below U.S.
Gardner and Killingly 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±$141
26% below U.S.
$793±$113Lowest
44% 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.
$3,922
26% above U.S.
$3,078Lowest
about the U.S. average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
49.7%±8.6
U.S.: 51.1%
42.8%±10.9Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
63.7%±11Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
North Adams and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
13.7%
U.S.: 12.5%
11.4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
18.6%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
58.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
71.6%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
51%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1954
26 yrs older than U.S.
1968Highest
12 yrs older than U.S.
1938Lowest
42 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
31 minHighest
16% above U.S.
28 min
6% above U.S.
17 minLowest
34% below U.S.
Work from home
13.3%±3.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
11.1%±2.3
U.S.: 15.1%
9.2%±3.5Lowest
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 #268 of 282 in MA
School district Gardner Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS North Adams · Northern Berkshire Regional Vocational Technical
High school in town Gardner High Killingly High School Charles McCann Vocational Technical
Students per teacherat that high school
13.5Highest
11.1
10.6Lowest
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.