Compare towns
Colchester vs Salem vs Ellington
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 oldest population (median age 43.5).
Salem has the most homeowners (86.6%).
Ellington has the most renters (27.8% 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 | Colchester | Salem | Ellington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,648 |
4,282Lowest |
16,455Highest |
| Median age | 43.5±3.8Highest 6% above CT |
40.9±5.4Lowest about the CT average |
40.9±2.4Lowest about the CT average |
| Colchester and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.7%±2.8Lowest CT: 20.2% |
23.2%±5.1 CT: 20.2% |
24%±3.2Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Ellington and Salem 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% |
19.7%±4.7 CT: 18.5% |
18.8%±2.8Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Colchester and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 49.7%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
50.6% CT: 42.5% |
51.4%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1.3Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.8%±3.3 CT: 7.1% |
6%±2.2Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Ellington and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $122,390±$14kLowest 28% above CT |
$123,245±$8k 29% above CT |
$129,913±$17kHighest 36% above CT |
| Ellington and Salem 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 |
$403,600±$33kHighest 10% above CT |
$366,900±$17k about the CT average |
| Salem 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 |
$1,440±$150Lowest 3% below CT |
$1,737±$212Highest 17% above 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 |
$6,668 about the CT average |
$6,751Highest about the CT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.4%±10.4 CT: 52.6% |
32.1%±26Lowest CT: 52.6% |
45.5%±10.3Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Ellington and Colchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.9% CT: 10% |
6.2%Highest CT: 10% |
2.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76.5% CT: 66.5% |
86.6%Highest CT: 66.5% |
72.2%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 17 yrs newer than CT |
1988Highest 21 yrs newer than CT |
1982Lowest 15 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minLowest 14% above CT |
32 minHighest 19% above CT |
31 min 18% above CT |
| Work from home | 18.4%±3.8Highest CT: 16% |
18%±9.6Lowest CT: 16% |
18.4%±3.9Highest CT: 16% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #64 of 149 in CT | #11 of 149 in CT | #46 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Colchester School District | Salem School District | Ellington School District |
| High school in town | Bacon Academy | None in town | Ellington High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8Lowest |
— | 10.3Highest |
| 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.