Compare towns

Webster vs Windsor Locks 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

Webster has the most expensive homes ($362k median).
Windsor Locks has the most people working from home (17.7%).
Killingly has the highest household income ($84k).
Gardner has the oldest population (median age 43.7).

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.

MeasureWebsterWindsor LocksKillinglyGardner
People
Population
17,748
12,579Lowest
17,867
21,148Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+6%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
— —
+5.2%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
39.9±2.9
about the U.S. average
41.4±2.6
6% above U.S.
39.5±3Lowest
about the U.S. average
43.7±2.3Highest
12% above U.S.
Gardner and Windsor Locks 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%
18.6%±3.4
U.S.: 22%
19.8%±2.3Highest
U.S.: 22%
18.3%±2.3Lowest
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%±2.5
U.S.: 17.2%
18.2%±2.7Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
19.7%±2.4Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
19.6%±2.2
U.S.: 17.2%
Killingly and Webster 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%
28.6%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
22.9%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
23.8%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.8%±1.6
U.S.: 6.4%
5.9%±1.8Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.4%±1.9
U.S.: 6.4%
4.6%±1.3Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Windsor Locks and Webster 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.
$81,205±$13k
about the U.S. average
$84,350±$8kHighest
4% above U.S.
$67,518±$8kLowest
16% below U.S.
Killingly and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$361,500±$12kHighest
9% above U.S.
$258,800±$14kLowest
22% below U.S.
$288,600±$15k
13% below U.S.
$301,600±$20k
9% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,228±$81
13% below U.S.
$1,394±$187Highest
about the U.S. average
$1,044±$141Lowest
26% below U.S.
$1,109±$51
22% below U.S.
Windsor Locks and Webster 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.
$3,688Lowest
18% above U.S.
$3,922
26% above U.S.
$4,150Highest
33% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
45.7%±6.7
U.S.: 51.1%
58.2%±16.8Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
42.8%±10.9Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
49.7%±8.6
U.S.: 51.1%
Windsor Locks 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%
10.9%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
11.4%
U.S.: 12.5%
13.7%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
59.8%
U.S.: 65.2%
77.1%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
71.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
58.9%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1962
18 yrs older than U.S.
1961
19 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 minHighest
16% above U.S.
22 minLowest
17% below U.S.
28 min
6% above U.S.
31 minHighest
16% above U.S.
Work from home
8%±2.5Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
17.7%±3.7Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
11.1%±2.3
U.S.: 15.1%
13.3%±3.6
U.S.: 15.1%
Windsor Locks 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 #109 of 149 in CT #136 of 149 in CT #273 of 282 in MA
School district Webster Windsor Locks School District Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS Gardner
High school in town Bartlett High School Windsor Locks High School Killingly High School Gardner High
Students per teacherat that high school
11.6
8.9Lowest
11.1
13.5Highest
On TownTapestry
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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.