Compare towns

Gardner vs Killingly vs Upton vs Templeton

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 affordable homes ($289k median).
Upton has the most expensive homes ($577k median).
Templeton has the shortest commute (28 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.

MeasureGardnerKillinglyUptonTempleton
People
Population
21,148Highest
17,867
8,189Lowest
8,252
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+5.2%
U.S.: +7.4%
—
+6.1%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+1.7%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
43.7±2.3
12% above U.S.
39.5±3Lowest
about the U.S. average
46.4±4.8Highest
19% above U.S.
40.3±5.1
4% above U.S.
Upton and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
18.3%±2.3Lowest
U.S.: 22%
19.8%±2.3
U.S.: 22%
23.2%±4.5Highest
U.S.: 22%
22.9%±5.9
U.S.: 22%
Upton and Templeton 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%
20.7%±4.9Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
14.7%±2.8Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Upton 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%
53.5%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
26.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.6%±1.3
U.S.: 6.4%
5.4%±1.9Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.4%±1.3Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.4%±1.6
U.S.: 6.4%
Killingly and Gardner 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.
$155,508±$33kHighest
93% above U.S.
$101,154±$15k
25% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$301,600±$20k
9% below U.S.
$288,600±$15kLowest
13% below U.S.
$576,700±$41kHighest
73% above U.S.
$358,500±$12k
8% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,109±$51
22% below U.S.
$1,044±$141
26% below U.S.
$948±$599Lowest
33% below U.S.
$1,207±$353Highest
15% below U.S.
Templeton 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.
$8,376Highest
169% above U.S.
$4,554
46% 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%
52.8%±31Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
44.7%±26.1
U.S.: 51.1%
Upton 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%
3.2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
10.6%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
58.9%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
71.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
86.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
85.3%
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.
1972
8 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
31 min
16% above U.S.
28 min
6% above U.S.
35 minHighest
34% above U.S.
28 minLowest
5% above U.S.
Work from home
13.3%±3.6
U.S.: 15.1%
11.1%±2.3Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
22.8%±5.3Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
16.9%±5.1
U.S.: 15.1%
Upton and Templeton 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 #46 of 282 in MA #244 of 282 in MA
School district Gardner Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton Narragansett
High school in town Gardner High Killingly High School Blackstone Valley Narragansett Regional High
Students per teacherat that high school
13.5Highest
11.1Lowest
11.2
12.2
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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.