Compare towns
Gardner vs Killingly vs Quinebaug vs South Ashburnham
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).
Quinebaug has the most people working from home (23.3%).
South Ashburnham has the most expensive homes ($370k 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 | Quinebaug | South Ashburnham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 21,148Highest |
17,867 |
1,193Lowest |
1,500 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -1.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±2.3 12% above U.S. |
39.5±3 about the U.S. average |
56.5±1Highest 45% above U.S. |
38.1±10.4Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Kids under 18 | 18.3%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
0%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±8.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| South Ashburnham 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%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
29.1%±9.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
8.2%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Quinebaug 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
10.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
27.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.2%±5.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| South Ashburnham 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. |
$105,181±$36k 30% above U.S. |
$126,071±$42kHighest 56% above U.S. |
| South Ashburnham and Quinebaug 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±$15k 13% below U.S. |
$237,800±$66kLowest 29% below U.S. |
$370,300±$56kHighest 11% above U.S. |
| South Ashburnham 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 | $4,150 33% above U.S. |
$3,922 26% above U.S. |
$3,703Lowest 19% above U.S. |
$4,896Highest 57% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.7%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
42.8%±10.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
100%±10.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 13.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
1.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
97%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1954Lowest 26 yrs older than U.S. |
1968Highest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1960 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1960 20 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 16% above U.S. |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
29 min 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.3%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.3%±17.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.7%±18.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Quinebaug and South Ashburnham 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 | — | — |
| School district | Gardner | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | — | — |
| High school in town | Gardner High | Killingly High School | — | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
11.1Lowest |
— | — |
| 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.