Compare towns
Westminster vs Thompson 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
Westminster has the most expensive homes ($422k median).
Thompson has the oldest population (median age 54.1).
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.
| Measure | Westminster | Thompson | Killingly | Gardner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,374Lowest |
9,337 |
17,867 |
21,148Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — | +5.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.3±4.6 24% above U.S. |
54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S. |
39.5±3Lowest about the U.S. average |
43.7±2.3 12% above U.S. |
| Thompson and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.3%±4.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
18.3%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Westminster and Killingly 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% |
24.4%±4.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.6%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Westminster and Thompson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
21.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
22.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
23.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.3 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±$22kHighest 32% above U.S. |
$93,629±$18k 16% above U.S. |
$84,350±$8k 4% above U.S. |
$67,518±$8kLowest 16% below U.S. |
| Westminster and Thompson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $422,000±$36kHighest 27% above U.S. |
$291,900±$24k 12% below U.S. |
$288,600±$15kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$301,600±$20k 9% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,843±$268Highest 30% above U.S. |
$1,012±$344Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,044±$141 26% below U.S. |
$1,109±$51 22% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,973Highest 59% above U.S. |
$3,822Lowest 23% above U.S. |
$3,922 26% above U.S. |
$4,150 33% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60%±27.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
54%±18.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
42.8%±10.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
49.7%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Westminster and Thompson 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% |
5.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
13.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
58.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1963 17 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 | 27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
31 min 16% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.5%±4.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Gardner and Thompson 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 | #112 of 282 in MA | #130 of 149 in CT | #136 of 149 in CT | #273 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ashburnham-Westminster | Thompson School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Gardner |
| High school in town | Oakmont Regional High School | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | Killingly High School | Gardner High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.6Highest |
7.9Lowest |
11.1 |
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.