Compare towns
Gardner vs Spencer vs Killingly vs West Springfield Town
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 housing (typical home built 1954).
Spencer has the most expensive homes ($382k median).
Killingly has the most homeowners (71.6%).
West Springfield Town has the shortest commute (19 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 | Spencer | Killingly | West Springfield Town |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 21,148 |
12,008Lowest |
17,867 |
28,772Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +1.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±2.3 12% above U.S. |
48.9±6.8Highest 26% above U.S. |
39.5±3Lowest about the U.S. average |
40.1±2.6 3% above U.S. |
| Spencer 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% |
16.4%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±2.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Killingly and West Springfield Town 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% |
26%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.5%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Spencer 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% |
29.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
22.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
34%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| West Springfield Town 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. |
$80,533±$11k about the U.S. average |
$84,350±$8kHighest 4% above U.S. |
$69,371±$7k 14% below U.S. |
| Killingly and Spencer 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. |
$382,000±$22kHighest 15% above U.S. |
$288,600±$15kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$321,500±$16k 3% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,109±$51 22% below U.S. |
$1,078±$161 24% below U.S. |
$1,044±$141Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$1,144±$68Highest 19% below U.S. |
| West Springfield Town 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. |
$4,387Highest 41% above U.S. |
$3,922Lowest 26% above U.S. |
$4,380 40% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.7%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±10.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
42.8%±10.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
60.1%±9.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| West Springfield Town and Spencer 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%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
63% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
58.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1954Lowest 26 yrs older than U.S. |
1968Highest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1968Highest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1958 22 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 16% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.3%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
15%±7.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±2.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.4%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Spencer 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 | #261 of 282 in MA | #136 of 149 in CT | #218 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Gardner | Spencer-E Brookfield | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | West Springfield |
| High school in town | Gardner High | David Prouty High | Killingly High School | West Springfield High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
9.9Lowest |
11.1 |
13.1 |
| 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.