Compare towns

Gardner vs Webster vs Killingly

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%).
Webster has the most expensive homes ($362k median).
Killingly has the most homeowners (71.6%).

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.

MeasureGardnerWebsterKillingly
People
Population
21,148Highest
17,748Lowest
17,867
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+5.2%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+6%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
—
Median age
43.7±2.3Highest
12% above U.S.
39.9±2.9
about the U.S. average
39.5±3Lowest
about the U.S. average
Gardner and Webster 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%
19.6%±2.9
U.S.: 22%
19.8%±2.3Highest
U.S.: 22%
Killingly and Webster 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%
19.6%±2.5Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
19.7%±2.4Highest
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%
25.3%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
22.9%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.6%±1.3Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.8%±1.6Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.4%±1.9
U.S.: 6.4%
Webster 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.
$72,895±$6k
10% below U.S.
$84,350±$8kHighest
4% above U.S.
Killingly and Webster 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.
$361,500±$12kHighest
9% above U.S.
$288,600±$15kLowest
13% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,109±$51
22% below U.S.
$1,228±$81Highest
13% below U.S.
$1,044±$141Lowest
26% 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
$4,150Highest
33% above U.S.
$3,999
28% above U.S.
$3,922Lowest
26% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
49.7%±8.6Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
45.7%±6.7
U.S.: 51.1%
42.8%±10.9Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Gardner and Webster 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%
12.7%
U.S.: 12.5%
11.4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
58.9%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
59.8%
U.S.: 65.2%
71.6%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1954Lowest
26 yrs older than U.S.
1962
18 yrs older than U.S.
1968Highest
12 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
31 minHighest
16% above U.S.
31 minHighest
16% above U.S.
28 minLowest
6% above U.S.
Work from home
13.3%±3.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
8%±2.5Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
11.1%±2.3
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 #271 of 282 in MA #136 of 149 in CT
School district Gardner Webster Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS
High school in town Gardner High Bartlett High School Killingly High School
Students per teacherat that high school
13.5Highest
11.6
11.1Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.