Compare towns
Crystal Lake vs Ellington vs Hampton vs Killingly
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Crystal Lake has the highest household income ($144k).
Ellington has the most people working from home (18.4%).
Hampton has the oldest population (median age 51.5).
Killingly has the shortest commute (28 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 | Crystal Lake | Ellington | Hampton | Killingly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,024 |
16,455 |
1,647Lowest |
17,867Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.6% CT: +0.9% |
— | — | — |
| Median age | 48.9±7.6 19% above CT |
40.9±2.4 about the CT average |
51.5±5.3Highest 25% above CT |
39.5±3Lowest 4% below CT |
| Hampton and Crystal Lake are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 24.5%±7.5Highest CT: 20.2% |
24%±3.2 CT: 20.2% |
19.7%±5.3Lowest CT: 20.2% |
19.8%±2.3 CT: 20.2% |
| Crystal Lake and Ellington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 23.3%±5.1 CT: 18.5% |
18.8%±2.8Lowest CT: 18.5% |
26.1%±2.1Highest CT: 18.5% |
19.7%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
| Hampton and Crystal Lake are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.9% CT: 42.5% |
51.4%Highest CT: 42.5% |
29.9% CT: 42.5% |
22.9%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.3%±3.7Highest CT: 7.1% |
6%±2.2 CT: 7.1% |
1.9%±1.1Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.9 CT: 7.1% |
| Crystal Lake and Ellington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $143,882±$29kHighest 50% above CT |
$129,913±$17k 36% above CT |
$109,167±$19k 14% above CT |
$84,350±$8kLowest 12% below CT |
| Crystal Lake and Ellington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $361,800±$35k about the CT average |
$366,900±$17kHighest about the CT average |
$295,800±$27k 19% below CT |
$288,600±$15kLowest 21% below CT |
| Ellington and Crystal Lake are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,737±$212Highest 17% above CT |
$1,285±$288 14% below CT |
$1,044±$141Lowest 30% below CT |
| Ellington and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,146Highest 8% above CT |
$6,751 about the CT average |
$4,364 34% below CT |
$3,922Lowest 41% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±93.3Lowest CT: 52.6% |
45.5%±10.3 CT: 52.6% |
52.5%±51.5Highest CT: 52.6% |
42.8%±10.9 CT: 52.6% |
| Hampton and Ellington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 1.7%Lowest CT: 10% |
2.4% CT: 10% |
5.7% CT: 10% |
11.4%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.4%Highest CT: 66.5% |
72.2% CT: 66.5% |
90% CT: 66.5% |
71.6%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 10 yrs newer than CT |
1982Highest 15 yrs newer than CT |
1980 13 yrs newer than CT |
1968Lowest 1 yr newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 39 minHighest 47% above CT |
31 min 18% above CT |
29 min 9% above CT |
28 minLowest 5% above CT |
| Work from home | 17.5%±10 CT: 16% |
18.4%±3.9Highest CT: 16% |
17.7%±5.1 CT: 16% |
11.1%±2.3Lowest CT: 16% |
| Ellington and Hampton 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 | — | #46 of 149 in CT | — | #136 of 149 in CT |
| School district | — | Ellington School District | Hampton School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS |
| High school in town | — | Ellington High School | None in town | Killingly High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.3Lowest |
— | 11.1Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.