Compare towns
Killingly vs Sturbridge vs Gardner vs Brooklyn
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).
Sturbridge has the most people working from home (19.8%).
Gardner has the most renters (41.1% rent).
Brooklyn has the shortest commute (27 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 | Sturbridge | Gardner | Brooklyn |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,867 |
9,960 |
21,148Highest |
8,517Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +6.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 39.5±3Lowest about the U.S. average |
47.2±2.6Highest 21% above U.S. |
43.7±2.3 12% above U.S. |
45.6±2.5 17% above U.S. |
| Sturbridge and Brooklyn 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% |
20.7%±3Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.3%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.6%±4.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Sturbridge and Brooklyn 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% |
19.8%±3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.6%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±2.9Lowest 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
49.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
23.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
23.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $84,350±$8k 4% above U.S. |
$136,759±$15kHighest 69% above U.S. |
$67,518±$8kLowest 16% below U.S. |
$96,207±$15k 19% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $288,600±$15kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$425,800±$18kHighest 28% above U.S. |
$301,600±$20k 9% below U.S. |
$315,200±$28k 5% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,044±$141Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$1,193±$398Highest 16% below U.S. |
$1,109±$51 22% below U.S. |
$1,125±$98 20% below U.S. |
| Sturbridge and Brooklyn 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. |
$6,520Highest 109% above U.S. |
$4,150 33% above U.S. |
$4,538 45% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.8%±10.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
42%±17.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
49.7%±8.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.5%±19.3Lowest 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% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
13.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
58.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1954Lowest 26 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 6% above U.S. |
38 minHighest 43% above U.S. |
31 min 16% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 11.1%±2.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.8%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.7%±5.4Lowest 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 | #89 of 282 in MA | #273 of 282 in MA | #113 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Sturbridge · Tantasqua | Gardner | Brooklyn School District |
| High school in town | Killingly High School | Tantasqua Regional Sr High | Gardner High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1 |
7.7Lowest |
13.5Highest |
— |
| 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.