Compare towns
Gardner vs Westminster vs Killingly vs Winchendon
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).
Westminster has the most expensive homes ($422k median).
Killingly has the most affordable homes ($289k median).
Winchendon has the most kids (21.8% under 18).
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 | Westminster | Killingly | Winchendon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 21,148Highest |
8,374Lowest |
17,867 |
10,440 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +0.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±2.3 12% above U.S. |
48.3±4.6Highest 24% above U.S. |
39.5±3Lowest about the U.S. average |
39.6±1.9 about the U.S. average |
| Westminster and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.3%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Winchendon and Westminster 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%±5.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.9%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Westminster 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% |
45.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
22.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
21.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.8%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Killingly and Gardner 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. |
$106,331±$22kHighest 32% above U.S. |
$84,350±$8k 4% above U.S. |
$75,690±$14k 6% below U.S. |
| Westminster 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. |
$422,000±$36kHighest 27% above U.S. |
$288,600±$15kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$323,800±$19k about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,109±$51 22% below U.S. |
$1,843±$268Highest 30% above U.S. |
$1,044±$141Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$1,255±$163 11% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,150 33% above U.S. |
$4,973Highest 59% above U.S. |
$3,922 26% above U.S. |
$3,780Lowest 21% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.7%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
60%±27.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
42.8%±10.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
61.7%±17.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Winchendon and Westminster 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% |
2.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
18.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
76.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1954Lowest 26 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 16% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.3%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.5%±4.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.2%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Gardner and Westminster 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 | #112 of 282 in MA | #136 of 149 in CT | #269 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Gardner | Ashburnham-Westminster | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Winchendon |
| High school in town | Gardner High | Oakmont Regional High School | Killingly High School | Murdock High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5 |
13.6Highest |
11.1Lowest |
11.3 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → |
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.