Compare towns

Killingly vs Gardner vs Ashby

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).
Gardner has the most renters (41.1% rent).
Ashby has the highest household income ($116k).

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.

MeasureKillinglyGardnerAshby
People
Population
17,867
21,148Highest
3,211Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+5.2%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+3.9%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
39.5±3Lowest
about the U.S. average
43.7±2.3
12% above U.S.
50.5±3Highest
30% above U.S.
Kids under 18
19.8%±2.3Highest
U.S.: 22%
18.3%±2.3
U.S.: 22%
17%±3.5Lowest
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%
19.6%±2.2Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
21.5%±4.3Highest
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%
23.8%
U.S.: 35.7%
43.7%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.4%±1.9Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.6%±1.3
U.S.: 6.4%
3%±1.2Lowest
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.
$67,518±$8kLowest
16% below U.S.
$115,598±$9kHighest
43% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$288,600±$15kLowest
13% below U.S.
$301,600±$20k
9% below U.S.
$390,500±$30kHighest
17% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,044±$141Lowest
26% below U.S.
$1,109±$51
22% below U.S.
$1,200±$484Highest
15% 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.
$4,150
33% above U.S.
$6,034Highest
93% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
42.8%±10.9
U.S.: 51.1%
49.7%±8.6Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
36.4%±53.5Lowest
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%
13.7%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
2.6%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
71.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
58.9%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
95.5%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1968
12 yrs older than U.S.
1954Lowest
26 yrs older than U.S.
1970Highest
10 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 minLowest
6% above U.S.
31 min
16% above U.S.
33 minHighest
25% above U.S.
Work from home
11.1%±2.3Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
13.3%±3.6
U.S.: 15.1%
17.8%±5.8Highest
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 #273 of 282 in MA #200 of 282 in MA
School district Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS Gardner North Middlesex
High school in town Killingly High School Gardner High None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
11.1Lowest
13.5Highest
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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.