Compare towns

Killingly vs Gardner vs Willington

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 most homeowners (71.6%).
Gardner has the most people working from home (13.3%).
Willington has the highest household income ($91k).

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.

MeasureKillinglyGardnerWillington
People
Population
17,867
21,148Highest
5,575Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+5.2%
U.S.: +7.4%
—
Median age
39.5±3
about the U.S. average
43.7±2.3Highest
12% above U.S.
37.5±7.2Lowest
4% below U.S.
Gardner and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
19.8%±2.3Highest
U.S.: 22%
18.3%±2.3
U.S.: 22%
12.8%±4.9Lowest
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%
23.3%±6.4Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Willington 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%
33.2%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.4%±1.9
U.S.: 6.4%
4.6%±1.3Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
14.6%±6.8Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$84,350±$8k
4% above U.S.
$67,518±$8kLowest
16% below U.S.
$91,114±$12kHighest
13% above U.S.
Willington and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$288,600±$15kLowest
13% below U.S.
$301,600±$20k
9% below U.S.
$305,800±$48kHighest
8% below U.S.
Willington and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,044±$141Lowest
26% below U.S.
$1,109±$51
22% below U.S.
$1,357±$116Highest
4% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,922Lowest
26% above U.S.
$4,150
33% above U.S.
$5,419Highest
74% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
42.8%±10.9Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
49.7%±8.6
U.S.: 51.1%
70%±20.6Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Willington and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
11.4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
13.7%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
13%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
71.6%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
58.9%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
64%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1968
12 yrs older than U.S.
1954Lowest
26 yrs older than U.S.
1976Highest
4 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 min
6% above U.S.
31 minHighest
16% above U.S.
26 minLowest
about the U.S. average
Work from home
11.1%±2.3
U.S.: 15.1%
13.3%±3.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
10.5%±4.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Gardner and Killingly 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 #104 of 149 in CT
School district Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS Gardner Willington School District
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.