Compare towns

Killingly vs Webster 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 highest household income ($84k).
Webster has the most renters (54.5% rent).
Gardner has the most people working from home (13.3%).

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.

MeasureKillinglyWebsterGardner
People
Population
17,867
12,228Lowest
21,148Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+6.9%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+5.2%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
39.5±3
about the U.S. average
37.2±2.1Lowest
4% below U.S.
43.7±2.3Highest
12% above 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%±2.3
U.S.: 22%
21.8%±3.6Highest
U.S.: 22%
18.3%±2.3Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Webster 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%
15.7%±2.5Lowest
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%
U.S.: 35.7%
18.8%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
23.8%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.4%±1.9
U.S.: 6.4%
6%±1.8Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.6%±1.3Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Webster and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$84,350±$8kHighest
4% above U.S.
$63,837±$8kLowest
21% below U.S.
$67,518±$8k
16% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$288,600±$15kLowest
13% below U.S.
$333,100±$14kHighest
about the U.S. average
$301,600±$20k
9% below U.S.
Webster 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.
$1,198±$85Highest
15% below U.S.
$1,109±$51
22% below U.S.
Webster and Gardner 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.
$3,234Lowest
4% above U.S.
$4,150Highest
33% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
42.8%±10.9Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
46.1%±7.4
U.S.: 51.1%
49.7%±8.6Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Gardner and Webster 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%
16%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
13.7%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
71.6%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
45.5%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
58.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1968Highest
12 yrs older than U.S.
1954Lowest
26 yrs older than U.S.
1954Lowest
26 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 min
6% above U.S.
28 minLowest
4% above U.S.
31 minHighest
16% above U.S.
Work from home
11.1%±2.3
U.S.: 15.1%
7.1%±2.9Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
13.3%±3.6Highest
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 #271 of 282 in MA #273 of 282 in MA
School district Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS — Gardner
High school in town Killingly High School — Gardner High
Students per teacherat that high school
11.1Lowest
—
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.