Compare towns
Crystal Lake vs Ellington 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 most homeowners (91.4%).
Ellington has the most people working from home (18.4%).
Killingly has the most affordable homes ($289k median).
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 | Killingly |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,024Lowest |
16,455 |
17,867Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.6% CT: +0.9% |
— | — |
| Median age | 48.9±7.6Highest 19% above CT |
40.9±2.4 about the CT average |
39.5±3Lowest 4% below CT |
| Crystal Lake and Ellington 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% |
19.8%±2.3Lowest 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%±5.1Highest CT: 18.5% |
18.8%±2.8Lowest CT: 18.5% |
19.7%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
| Crystal Lake and Killingly 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% |
22.9%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.3%±3.7Highest CT: 7.1% |
6%±2.2 CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.9Lowest 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 |
$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 |
$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 |
$1,044±$141Lowest 30% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,146Highest 8% above CT |
$6,751 about the CT average |
$3,922Lowest 41% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±93.3Lowest CT: 52.6% |
45.5%±10.3Highest CT: 52.6% |
42.8%±10.9 CT: 52.6% |
| Ellington and Killingly 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% |
11.4%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.4%Highest CT: 66.5% |
72.2% 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 |
1968Lowest 1 yr newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 39 minHighest 47% above CT |
31 min 18% above CT |
28 minLowest 5% above CT |
| Work from home | 17.5%±10 CT: 16% |
18.4%±3.9Highest CT: 16% |
11.1%±2.3Lowest CT: 16% |
| Ellington and Crystal Lake 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 | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS |
| High school in town | — | Ellington High School | 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 |
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.