Compare towns
Westminster vs Killingly vs Gardner vs Princeton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Westminster has the oldest population (median age 48.3).
Killingly has the youngest population (median age 39.5).
Gardner has the most renters (41.1% rent).
Princeton has the most people working from home (29.5%).
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 | Westminster | Killingly | Gardner | Princeton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,374 |
17,867 |
21,148Highest |
3,529Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +5.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.3±4.6Highest 24% above U.S. |
39.5±3Lowest about the U.S. average |
43.7±2.3 12% above U.S. |
46.1±7 19% above U.S. |
| Westminster and Princeton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.3%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
18.3%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±4.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Princeton and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26%±5.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.6%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.9%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Westminster and Princeton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
22.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
23.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
59.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Killingly and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $106,331±$22k 32% above U.S. |
$84,350±$8k 4% above U.S. |
$67,518±$8kLowest 16% below U.S. |
$158,750±$46kHighest 97% above U.S. |
| Princeton and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $422,000±$36k 27% above U.S. |
$288,600±$15kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$301,600±$20k 9% below U.S. |
$520,500±$48kHighest 56% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,843±$268Highest 30% above U.S. |
$1,044±$141 26% below U.S. |
$1,109±$51 22% below U.S. |
$897±$852Lowest 37% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,973 59% above U.S. |
$3,922Lowest 26% above U.S. |
$4,150 33% above U.S. |
$6,633Highest 113% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60%±27.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
42.8%±10.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
49.7%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
69.8%±46.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Princeton and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
13.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
58.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1954Lowest 26 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
31 min 16% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 38% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.5%±4.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
29.5%±6.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #112 of 282 in MA | #136 of 149 in CT | #273 of 282 in MA | #59 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ashburnham-Westminster | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Gardner | Wachusett |
| High school in town | Oakmont Regional High School | Killingly High School | Gardner High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.6Highest |
11.1Lowest |
13.5 |
— |
| 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.