Compare towns
Gardner vs Killingly vs Washington vs Westminster
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 youngest population (median age 39.5).
Washington has the most expensive homes ($660k median).
Westminster has the most homeowners (87.6%).
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 | Washington | Westminster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 21,148Highest |
17,867 |
3,676Lowest |
8,374 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — | +12.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±2.3 12% above U.S. |
39.5±3Lowest about the U.S. average |
49.9±5.5Highest 28% above U.S. |
48.3±4.6 24% above U.S. |
| Washington and Westminster 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% |
19%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±4.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Westminster and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.6%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.9%±5.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
26%±5.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Washington and Westminster 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% |
53.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.9% 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% |
6.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.8%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Washington 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. |
$101,549±$16k 26% above U.S. |
$106,331±$22kHighest 32% above U.S. |
| Westminster and Washington 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. |
$660,200±$130kHighest 98% above U.S. |
$422,000±$36k 27% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,109±$51 22% below U.S. |
$1,044±$141Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$1,204±$264 15% below U.S. |
$1,843±$268Highest 30% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,150 33% above U.S. |
$3,922Lowest 26% above U.S. |
$4,709 51% above U.S. |
$4,973Highest 59% 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% |
26.1%±24Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
60%±27.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Westminster 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% |
9% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
79% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1954Lowest 26 yrs older than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 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 3% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 13.3%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.1%±9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.5%±4.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Washington 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 | #17 of 149 in CT | #112 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Gardner | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Regional School District 12 | Ashburnham-Westminster |
| High school in town | Gardner High | Killingly High School | Shepaug Valley School | Oakmont Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5 |
11.1 |
9.1Lowest |
13.6Highest |
| 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.