Compare towns
Crystal Lake vs Killingly vs Putnam vs Ellington
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%).
Killingly has the youngest population (median age 39.5).
Putnam has the most renters (49.3% rent).
Ellington has the most people working from home (18.4%).
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 | Killingly | Putnam | Ellington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,024Lowest |
17,867Highest |
7,120 |
16,455 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.6%Highest CT: +0.9% |
— | -2.1%Lowest CT: +0.9% |
— |
| Median age | 48.9±7.6Highest 19% above CT |
39.5±3Lowest 4% below CT |
41.2±5.1 about the CT average |
40.9±2.4 about the CT average |
| Crystal Lake and Putnam 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% |
19.8%±2.3 CT: 20.2% |
18.9%±4.3Lowest CT: 20.2% |
24%±3.2 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% |
19.7%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
17%±3.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
18.8%±2.8 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% |
22.9% CT: 42.5% |
18.8%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
51.4%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.3%±3.7Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.9 CT: 7.1% |
4.2%±1.8Lowest CT: 7.1% |
6%±2.2 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 |
$84,350±$8k 12% below CT |
$65,511±$7kLowest 32% below CT |
$129,913±$17k 36% above 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 |
$288,600±$15k 21% below CT |
$245,100±$13kLowest 33% below CT |
$366,900±$17kHighest about the CT average |
| Ellington and Crystal Lake are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,044±$141Lowest 30% below CT |
$1,147±$43 23% below CT |
$1,737±$212Highest 17% above CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,146Highest 8% above CT |
$3,922 41% below CT |
$3,564Lowest 46% below CT |
$6,751 about the CT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±93.3Lowest CT: 52.6% |
42.8%±10.9 CT: 52.6% |
38.2%±12.1 CT: 52.6% |
45.5%±10.3Highest 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% |
11.4% CT: 10% |
11.7%Highest CT: 10% |
2.4% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.4%Highest CT: 66.5% |
71.6% CT: 66.5% |
50.7%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
72.2% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 10 yrs newer than CT |
1968 1 yr newer than CT |
1956Lowest 11 yrs older than CT |
1982Highest 15 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 39 minHighest 47% above CT |
28 min 5% above CT |
25 minLowest 5% below CT |
31 min 18% above CT |
| Work from home | 17.5%±10 CT: 16% |
11.1%±2.3 CT: 16% |
6.7%±2.7Lowest CT: 16% |
18.4%±3.9Highest 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 | — | #136 of 149 in CT | #128 of 149 in CT | #46 of 149 in CT |
| School district | — | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | — | Ellington School District |
| High school in town | — | Killingly High School | — | Ellington High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1Highest |
— | 10.3Lowest |
| 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.