Compare towns
Gardner vs Putnam vs Killingly vs North Adams
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%).
Putnam has the most renters (49.3% rent).
Killingly has the highest household income ($84k).
North Adams has the shortest commute (17 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.
| Measure | Gardner | Putnam | Killingly | North Adams |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 21,148Highest |
7,120Lowest |
17,867 |
12,606 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -5.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±2.3 12% above U.S. |
41.2±5.1 6% above U.S. |
39.5±3Lowest about the U.S. average |
44.1±3.5Highest 13% above U.S. |
| North Adams and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.3%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±2.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.7%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Killingly and Putnam 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% |
17%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.6%±2.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| North Adams 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% |
18.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
22.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
28.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
9.8%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $67,518±$8k 16% below U.S. |
$65,511±$7k 19% below U.S. |
$84,350±$8kHighest 4% above U.S. |
$47,500±$7kLowest 41% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $301,600±$20kHighest 9% below U.S. |
$245,100±$13k 26% below U.S. |
$288,600±$15k 13% below U.S. |
$195,900±$14kLowest 41% below U.S. |
| Gardner and Killingly 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. |
$1,147±$43Highest 19% below U.S. |
$1,044±$141 26% below U.S. |
$793±$113Lowest 44% below U.S. |
| Putnam 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. |
$3,564 14% above U.S. |
$3,922 26% above U.S. |
$3,078Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.7%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
38.2%±12.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.8%±10.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
63.7%±11Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| North Adams 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% |
11.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
18.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
50.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
51% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1954 26 yrs older than U.S. |
1956 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1968Highest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 16% above U.S. |
25 min 5% below U.S. |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
17 minLowest 34% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.3%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.7%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±2.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.2%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Gardner and Killingly 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 | #128 of 149 in CT | #136 of 149 in CT | #268 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Gardner | — | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | North Adams · Northern Berkshire Regional Vocational Technical |
| High school in town | Gardner High | — | Killingly High School | Charles McCann Vocational Technical |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
— | 11.1 |
10.6Lowest |
| 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.