Compare towns
Gardner vs Killingly vs Warren 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 oldest population (median age 43.7).
Killingly has the most affordable homes ($289k median).
South Ashburnham has the highest household income ($126k).
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 | Warren | South Ashburnham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 21,148Highest |
17,867 |
5,009 |
1,500Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±2.3Highest 12% above U.S. |
39.5±3 about the U.S. average |
38.7±7.3 about the U.S. average |
38.1±10.4Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Gardner and Killingly 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% |
20.8%±8 U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±8.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| South Ashburnham and Warren 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% |
14.6%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
8.2%±4.8Lowest 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% |
23.2% 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% |
2.9%±2.1Lowest 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±$8k 16% below U.S. |
$84,350±$8k 4% above U.S. |
$66,082±$6kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$126,071±$42kHighest 56% above U.S. |
| South Ashburnham 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. |
$333,700±$35k about the U.S. average |
$370,300±$56kHighest 11% above U.S. |
| South Ashburnham and Warren 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±$141 26% below U.S. |
$890±$174Lowest 37% 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. |
$3,922Lowest 26% above U.S. |
$4,530 45% 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% |
29.7%±18.4Lowest 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% |
9% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
64.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
91.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1954Lowest 26 yrs older than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1960 20 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 16% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 6% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
29 min 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.3%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±2.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.5%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.7%±18.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| South Ashburnham 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 | #165 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Gardner | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Quaboag Regional | — |
| High school in town | Gardner High | Killingly High School | Quaboag Regional High | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
11.1 |
10.0Lowest |
— |
| 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.