Compare towns
Gardner vs Winchester vs Killingly vs Spencer
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).
Winchester has the most affordable homes ($250k median).
Killingly has the youngest population (median age 39.5).
Spencer has the most expensive homes ($382k median).
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 | Winchester | Killingly | Spencer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 21,148Highest |
10,284Lowest |
17,867 |
12,008 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — | +2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±2.3 12% above U.S. |
49.1±6.2Highest 26% above U.S. |
39.5±3Lowest about the U.S. average |
48.9±6.8 26% above U.S. |
| Winchester and Spencer 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% |
15.4%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±2.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.4%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Killingly and Gardner 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% |
27.4%±5.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
26%±4.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Winchester and Spencer 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% |
27.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
22.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
29.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Killingly and Spencer 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. |
$66,519±$12kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$84,350±$8kHighest 4% above U.S. |
$80,533±$11k about the U.S. average |
| 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. |
$249,500±$17kLowest 25% below U.S. |
$288,600±$15k 13% below U.S. |
$382,000±$22kHighest 15% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,109±$51 22% below U.S. |
$1,174±$116Highest 17% below U.S. |
$1,044±$141Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$1,078±$161 24% below U.S. |
| Winchester 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. |
$4,780Highest 53% above U.S. |
$3,922Lowest 26% above U.S. |
$4,387 41% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.7%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
48.9%±15.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
42.8%±10.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±10.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Spencer and Gardner 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% |
12.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
11%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
65.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
63% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1954Lowest 26 yrs older than U.S. |
1955 25 yrs older than U.S. |
1968Highest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1968Highest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 16% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.3%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.9%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±2.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
15%±7.3Highest 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 | #97 of 149 in CT | #136 of 149 in CT | #261 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Gardner | Explorations District · Regional School District 07 | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Spencer-E Brookfield |
| High school in town | Gardner High | Northwestern Regional High School | Killingly High School | David Prouty High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
9.7Lowest |
11.1 |
9.9 |
| 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.