Compare towns
Gardner vs Killingly vs Thompson vs Webster
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 most affordable homes ($289k median).
Thompson has the oldest population (median age 54.1).
Webster has the most renters (54.5% rent).
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 | Thompson | Webster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 21,148Highest |
17,867 |
9,337Lowest |
12,228 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — | +6.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±2.3 12% above U.S. |
39.5±3 about the U.S. average |
54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S. |
37.2±2.1Lowest 4% below U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 18.3%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Webster 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% |
24.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.7%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Thompson 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% |
21.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
18.8%Lowest 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% |
2.9%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Webster 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±$8k 16% below U.S. |
$84,350±$8k 4% above U.S. |
$93,629±$18kHighest 16% above U.S. |
$63,837±$8kLowest 21% below U.S. |
| Thompson 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. |
$291,900±$24k 12% below U.S. |
$333,100±$14kHighest about the U.S. average |
| Webster and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,109±$51 22% below U.S. |
$1,044±$141 26% below U.S. |
$1,012±$344Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,198±$85Highest 15% below U.S. |
| Webster and Gardner 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. |
$3,822 23% above U.S. |
$3,234Lowest 4% 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% |
54%±18.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.1%±7.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Thompson 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
16%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
45.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1954Lowest 26 yrs older than U.S. |
1968Highest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1954Lowest 26 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 16% above U.S. |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.3%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±2.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.1%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Gardner and Thompson 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 | #130 of 149 in CT | #271 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Gardner | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Thompson School District | — |
| High school in town | Gardner High | Killingly High School | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
11.1 |
7.9Lowest |
— |
| 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.