Compare towns
Webster vs Killingly vs Spencer 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 most homeowners (71.6%).
Spencer has the most people working from home (15%).
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 | Webster | Killingly | Spencer | Gardner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,748 |
17,867 |
12,008Lowest |
21,148Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.9±2.9 about the U.S. average |
39.5±3Lowest about the U.S. average |
48.9±6.8Highest 26% above U.S. |
43.7±2.3 12% above U.S. |
| Spencer and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±2.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.4%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.3%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Killingly and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.6%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
26%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.6%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Spencer and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 25.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
22.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
29.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
23.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.4 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 | $72,895±$6k 10% below U.S. |
$84,350±$8kHighest 4% above U.S. |
$80,533±$11k about the U.S. average |
$67,518±$8kLowest 16% below U.S. |
| Killingly and Spencer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $361,500±$12k 9% above U.S. |
$288,600±$15kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$382,000±$22kHighest 15% above U.S. |
$301,600±$20k 9% below U.S. |
| Spencer and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,228±$81Highest 13% below U.S. |
$1,044±$141Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$1,078±$161 24% 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 | $3,999 28% above U.S. |
$3,922Lowest 26% above U.S. |
$4,387Highest 41% above U.S. |
$4,150 33% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.7%±6.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
42.8%±10.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±10.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
49.7%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Spencer and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 12.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
11%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
13.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
63% U.S.: 65.2% |
58.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1968Highest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1968Highest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1954Lowest 26 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 16% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 6% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
31 min 16% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 8%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±2.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
15%±7.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Spencer 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 | #271 of 282 in MA | #136 of 149 in CT | #261 of 282 in MA | #273 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Webster | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Spencer-E Brookfield | Gardner |
| High school in town | Bartlett High School | Killingly High School | David Prouty High | Gardner High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6 |
11.1 |
9.9Lowest |
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.