Compare towns
Killingly vs Gardner vs Sturbridge vs Putnam
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).
Sturbridge has the highest household income ($137k).
Putnam has the shortest commute (25 min average).
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 | Killingly | Gardner | Sturbridge | Putnam |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,867 |
21,148Highest |
9,960 |
9,292Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +5.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 39.5±3Lowest about the U.S. average |
43.7±2.3 12% above U.S. |
47.2±2.6Highest 21% above U.S. |
43.7±3 12% above U.S. |
| Sturbridge and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.8%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
18.3%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.7%±3Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Sturbridge and Killingly 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%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Sturbridge 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
23.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
49.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
20%Lowest 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% |
4.6%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest 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. |
$136,759±$15kHighest 69% above U.S. |
$70,561±$7k 13% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $288,600±$15k 13% below U.S. |
$301,600±$20k 9% below U.S. |
$425,800±$18kHighest 28% above U.S. |
$269,200±$11kLowest 19% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,044±$141Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$1,109±$51 22% below U.S. |
$1,193±$398Highest 16% below U.S. |
$1,149±$44 19% below U.S. |
| Sturbridge and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,922 26% above U.S. |
$4,150 33% above U.S. |
$6,520Highest 109% above U.S. |
$3,860Lowest 24% 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% |
42%±17.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest 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% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
58.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1954Lowest 26 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1961 19 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 6% above U.S. |
31 min 16% above U.S. |
38 minHighest 43% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.1%±2.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.8%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sturbridge 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 | #89 of 282 in MA | #128 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Gardner | Sturbridge · Tantasqua | Putnam School District |
| High school in town | Killingly High School | Gardner High | Tantasqua Regional Sr High | Putnam High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1 |
13.5Highest |
7.7Lowest |
9.5 |
| 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.