Compare towns
Gardner vs Killingly vs Pepperell
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 shortest commute (28 min average).
Pepperell has the most expensive homes ($482k 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 | Gardner | Killingly | Pepperell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 21,148Highest |
17,867 |
11,663Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +0.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±2.3Highest 12% above U.S. |
39.5±3Lowest about the U.S. average |
42.4±3.3 9% above U.S. |
| Gardner and Pepperell 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% |
20.1%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Pepperell and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.6%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±2.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.3Lowest 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+ | 23.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
22.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.8%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% |
5.7%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Pepperell and Killingly 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. |
$124,073±$12kHighest 54% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $301,600±$20k 9% below U.S. |
$288,600±$15kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$482,100±$14kHighest 45% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,109±$51 22% below U.S. |
$1,044±$141Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$1,295±$238Highest 8% below U.S. |
| Pepperell and Gardner 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. |
$6,698Highest 115% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.7%±8.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.8%±10.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±16.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Gardner and Pepperell 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% |
8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1954Lowest 26 yrs older than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 16% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 6% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 28% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.3%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±2.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Pepperell and Gardner 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 | #153 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Gardner | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | Gardner High | Killingly High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
11.1Lowest |
— |
| 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.