Compare towns
Gardner vs Killingly vs Webster 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).
Webster has the most renters (54.5% rent).
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 | Webster | South Ashburnham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 21,148Highest |
17,867 |
12,228 |
1,500Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +6.9% 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 |
37.2±2.1Lowest 4% below U.S. |
38.1±10.4 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% |
21.8%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±8.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Webster and South Ashburnham 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% |
15.7%±2.5 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
18.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
27.2%Highest 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% |
6%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.2%±5.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| South Ashburnham and Webster 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. |
$63,837±$8kLowest 21% 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. |
$333,100±$14k about the U.S. average |
$370,300±$56kHighest 11% above U.S. |
| South Ashburnham and Webster 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±$141Lowest 26% 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 | $4,150 33% above U.S. |
$3,922 26% above U.S. |
$3,234Lowest 4% 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%±10.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.1%±7.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
100%±10.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 13.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
16%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
45.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1954Lowest 26 yrs older than U.S. |
1968Highest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1954Lowest 26 yrs older than U.S. |
1960 20 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 16% above U.S. |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 4% 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% |
7.1%±2.9Lowest 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 | #271 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Gardner | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | — | — |
| High school in town | Gardner High | Killingly High School | — | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
11.1Lowest |
— | — |
| 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.