Compare towns

Killingly vs Gardner vs Willington vs Montville

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 kids (19.8% under 18).
Gardner has the most people working from home (13.3%).
Willington has the youngest population (median age 37.5).
Montville has the most homeowners (81.8%).

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.

MeasureKillinglyGardnerWillingtonMontville
People
Population
17,867
21,148Highest
5,575Lowest
17,950
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.
42.8±4.1
10% above U.S.
Gardner and Montville 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%
18.2%±2.8
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%±2.2
U.S.: 17.2%
23.3%±6.4Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
17%±2.1Lowest
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%
25.5%
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%
6%±1.6
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±$12k
13% above U.S.
$96,454±$11kHighest
19% above U.S.
Montville and Willington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$288,600±$15k
13% below U.S.
$301,600±$20k
9% below U.S.
$305,800±$48kHighest
8% below U.S.
$285,600±$13kLowest
14% 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.
$1,187±$99
16% below U.S.
Willington and Montville 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.
$5,419Highest
74% above U.S.
$4,565
46% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
42.8%±10.9
U.S.: 51.1%
49.7%±8.6
U.S.: 51.1%
70%±20.6Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
41.4%±8.8Lowest
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%
U.S.: 12.5%
13.7%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
13%
U.S.: 12.5%
7.8%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
71.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
58.9%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
64%
U.S.: 65.2%
81.8%Highest
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.
1971
9 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 min
6% above U.S.
31 minHighest
16% above U.S.
26 min
about the U.S. average
25 minLowest
4% below U.S.
Work from home
11.1%±2.3
U.S.: 15.1%
13.3%±3.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
10.5%±4.7
U.S.: 15.1%
5.5%±2.2Lowest
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 #95 of 149 in CT
School district Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS Gardner Willington School District Montville School District
High school in town Killingly High School Gardner High None in town Montville High School
Students per teacherat that high school
11.1
13.5Highest
—
9.2Lowest
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.