Compare towns

Washington vs Killingly 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

Washington has the most expensive homes ($660k median).
Killingly has the youngest population (median age 39.5).
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.

MeasureWashingtonKillinglyGardner
People
Population
3,676Lowest
17,867
21,148Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census — —
+5.2%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
49.9±5.5Highest
28% above U.S.
39.5±3Lowest
about the U.S. average
43.7±2.3
12% above U.S.
Washington and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
19%±4.7
U.S.: 22%
19.8%±2.3Highest
U.S.: 22%
18.3%±2.3Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Killingly and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
26.9%±5.3Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
19.7%±2.4
U.S.: 17.2%
19.6%±2.2Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Washington and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
53.7%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
22.9%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
23.8%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
6.4%±3.3Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.4%±1.9
U.S.: 6.4%
4.6%±1.3Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Washington and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$101,549±$16kHighest
26% above U.S.
$84,350±$8k
4% above U.S.
$67,518±$8kLowest
16% below U.S.
Washington and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$660,200±$130kHighest
98% above U.S.
$288,600±$15kLowest
13% below U.S.
$301,600±$20k
9% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,204±$264Highest
15% below U.S.
$1,044±$141Lowest
26% below U.S.
$1,109±$51
22% below U.S.
Washington and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,709Highest
51% above U.S.
$3,922Lowest
26% above U.S.
$4,150
33% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
26.1%±24Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
42.8%±10.9
U.S.: 51.1%
49.7%±8.6Highest
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
9%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
11.4%
U.S.: 12.5%
13.7%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
79%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
71.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
58.9%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1971Highest
9 yrs older than U.S.
1968
12 yrs older than U.S.
1954Lowest
26 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
26 minLowest
3% below U.S.
28 min
6% above U.S.
31 minHighest
16% above U.S.
Work from home
20.1%±9Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
11.1%±2.3Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
13.3%±3.6
U.S.: 15.1%
Washington 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 #17 of 149 in CT #136 of 149 in CT #273 of 282 in MA
School district Regional School District 12 Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS Gardner
High school in town Shepaug Valley School Killingly High School Gardner High
Students per teacherat that high school
9.1Lowest
11.1
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.