Compare towns

Killingly vs Ashby vs Gardner

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Killingly has the youngest population (median age 39.5).
Ashby has the highest household income ($116k).
Gardner has the most renters (41.1% rent).

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.

MeasureKillinglyAshbyGardner
People
Population
17,867
3,211Lowest
21,148Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+3.9%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+5.2%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
39.5±3Lowest
about the U.S. average
50.5±3Highest
30% above U.S.
43.7±2.3
12% above U.S.
Kids under 18
19.8%±2.3Highest
U.S.: 22%
17%±3.5Lowest
U.S.: 22%
18.3%±2.3
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+
19.7%±2.4
U.S.: 17.2%
21.5%±4.3Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
19.6%±2.2Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Ashby and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
22.9%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
43.7%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
23.8%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.4%±1.9Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3%±1.2Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.6%±1.3
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
$84,350±$8k
4% above U.S.
$115,598±$9kHighest
43% above U.S.
$67,518±$8kLowest
16% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$288,600±$15kLowest
13% below U.S.
$390,500±$30kHighest
17% above U.S.
$301,600±$20k
9% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,044±$141Lowest
26% below U.S.
$1,200±$484Highest
15% below U.S.
$1,109±$51
22% below U.S.
Ashby and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,922Lowest
26% above U.S.
$6,034Highest
93% above U.S.
$4,150
33% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
42.8%±10.9
U.S.: 51.1%
36.4%±53.5Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
49.7%±8.6Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Gardner and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
11.4%
U.S.: 12.5%
2.6%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
13.7%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
71.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
95.5%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
58.9%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1968
12 yrs older than U.S.
1970Highest
10 yrs older than U.S.
1954Lowest
26 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 minLowest
6% above U.S.
33 minHighest
25% above U.S.
31 min
16% above U.S.
Work from home
11.1%±2.3Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
17.8%±5.8Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
13.3%±3.6
U.S.: 15.1%
Ashby 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 #136 of 149 in CT #200 of 282 in MA #273 of 282 in MA
School district Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS North Middlesex Gardner
High school in town Killingly High School None in town Gardner High
Students per teacherat that high school
11.1Lowest
—
13.5Highest
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.