Compare towns
Killingly vs Northbridge 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).
Northbridge has the most expensive homes ($449k median).
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.
| Measure | Killingly | Northbridge | Gardner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 17,867 |
16,458Lowest |
21,148Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.5±3Lowest about the U.S. average |
43.8±2.6Highest 13% above U.S. |
43.7±2.3 12% above U.S. |
| Northbridge 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% |
21.1%±2.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.3%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Northbridge and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.7%±2.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.6%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Killingly and Gardner 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% |
36.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
23.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1.3Lowest 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. |
$111,319±$19kHighest 38% above U.S. |
$67,518±$8kLowest 16% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $288,600±$15kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$448,600±$15kHighest 35% above U.S. |
$301,600±$20k 9% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,044±$141Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$1,207±$102Highest 15% below U.S. |
$1,109±$51 22% below U.S. |
| Northbridge 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. |
$4,821Highest 55% above U.S. |
$4,150 33% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.8%±10.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.2%±9.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
49.7%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Northbridge 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% |
7.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
13.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
70.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
58.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1973Highest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1954Lowest 26 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 6% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
31 min 16% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.1%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.2%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Northbridge 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 | #226 of 282 in MA | #273 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Northbridge | Gardner |
| High school in town | Killingly High School | Northbridge High | Gardner High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1 |
10.8Lowest |
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.