Compare towns
Gardner vs Killingly vs Sterling vs Windsor Locks
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 most kids (19.8% under 18).
Sterling has the most expensive homes ($499k median).
Windsor Locks has the shortest commute (22 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.
| Measure | Gardner | Killingly | Sterling | Windsor Locks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 21,148Highest |
17,867 |
8,183Lowest |
12,579 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 43.7±2.3 12% above U.S. |
39.5±3Lowest about the U.S. average |
51.5±1.8Highest 32% above U.S. |
41.4±2.6 6% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 18.3%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±2.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Killingly and Sterling 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% |
22.9%±4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Sterling 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% |
48.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.6% 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% |
4.8%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Windsor Locks 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. |
$129,063±$27kHighest 60% above U.S. |
$81,205±$13k about the U.S. average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $301,600±$20k 9% below U.S. |
$288,600±$15k 13% below U.S. |
$498,800±$48kHighest 50% above U.S. |
$258,800±$14kLowest 22% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,109±$51 22% below U.S. |
$1,044±$141Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$1,699±$161Highest 20% above U.S. |
$1,394±$187 about the U.S. average |
| Sterling and Windsor Locks 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. |
$6,757Highest 117% above U.S. |
$3,688Lowest 18% 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% |
46%±23.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
58.2%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Windsor Locks 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%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1954Lowest 26 yrs older than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1961 19 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 16% above U.S. |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.3%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.3%±6.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sterling and Windsor Locks 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 | #135 of 282 in MA | #109 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Gardner | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Wachusett | Windsor Locks School District |
| High school in town | Gardner High | Killingly High School | None in town | Windsor Locks High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
11.1 |
— | 8.9Lowest |
| 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.