Compare towns
Colchester vs Ellington vs Suffield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Colchester has the most affordable homes ($367k median).
Ellington has the most kids (24% under 18).
Suffield has the shortest commute (26 min average).
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 | Colchester | Ellington | Suffield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,648Lowest |
16,455Highest |
15,702 |
| Median age | 43.5±3.8 6% above CT |
40.9±2.4Lowest about the CT average |
44.5±1.7Highest 8% above CT |
| Suffield and Colchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.7%±2.8 CT: 20.2% |
24%±3.2Highest CT: 20.2% |
16.2%±2Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Ellington and Colchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.3%±2.4Highest CT: 18.5% |
18.8%±2.8 CT: 18.5% |
18.4%±2.2Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Colchester and Ellington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 49.7% CT: 42.5% |
51.4%Highest CT: 42.5% |
40.4%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1.3 CT: 7.1% |
6%±2.2Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.4%±1.2Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Ellington and Colchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $122,390±$14k 28% above CT |
$129,913±$17kHighest 36% above CT |
$119,472±$13kLowest 25% above CT |
| Ellington and Colchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $366,800±$16kLowest about the CT average |
$366,900±$17k about the CT average |
$407,500±$26kHighest 11% above CT |
| Suffield and Ellington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,474±$153 about the CT average |
$1,737±$212Highest 17% above CT |
$1,424±$141Lowest 4% below CT |
| Ellington and Colchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,212Lowest 6% below CT |
$6,751Highest about the CT average |
$6,456 about the CT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.4%±10.4Lowest CT: 52.6% |
45.5%±10.3 CT: 52.6% |
51%±4.6Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Suffield and Ellington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.9% CT: 10% |
2.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
4.6%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76.5% CT: 66.5% |
72.2%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
86.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 17 yrs newer than CT |
1982 15 yrs newer than CT |
1979Lowest 12 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 14% above CT |
31 minHighest 18% above CT |
26 minLowest 3% below CT |
| Work from home | 18.4%±3.8 CT: 16% |
18.4%±3.9 CT: 16% |
18.4%±4.1 CT: 16% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #64 of 149 in CT | #46 of 149 in CT | #57 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Colchester School District | Ellington School District | Suffield School District |
| High school in town | Bacon Academy | Ellington High School | Suffield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8Lowest |
10.3 |
10.9Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
CT 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.