Compare towns
Crystal Lake vs Killingly vs Stafford
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 people working from home (17.5%).
Killingly has the youngest population (median age 39.5).
Stafford has the most affordable homes ($264k 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 | Killingly | Stafford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,024Lowest |
17,867Highest |
11,511 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.6% CT: +0.9% |
— | — |
| Median age | 48.9±7.6Highest 19% above CT |
39.5±3Lowest 4% below CT |
46.7±4.8 14% above CT |
| Crystal Lake and Stafford 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%±2.3Lowest CT: 20.2% |
21.5%±3.1 CT: 20.2% |
| Crystal Lake and Stafford 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%±2.4Lowest CT: 18.5% |
22%±3 CT: 18.5% |
| Crystal Lake and Stafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.9%Highest CT: 42.5% |
22.9%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
28.5% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.3%±3.7Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.9 CT: 7.1% |
3.5%±1.3Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Crystal Lake and Killingly 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±$8kLowest 12% below CT |
$93,235±$16k about the CT average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $361,800±$35kHighest about the CT average |
$288,600±$15k 21% below CT |
$263,800±$22kLowest 28% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,044±$141Lowest 30% below CT |
$1,086±$85Highest 27% below CT |
| Stafford and Killingly 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 |
$3,922Lowest 41% below CT |
$5,131 23% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±93.3Lowest CT: 52.6% |
42.8%±10.9Highest CT: 52.6% |
41.5%±12.2 CT: 52.6% |
| Killingly and Stafford 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%Highest CT: 10% |
7.4% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.4%Highest CT: 66.5% |
71.6%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
79.5% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 10 yrs newer than CT |
1968Lowest 1 yr newer than CT |
1970 3 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 39 minHighest 47% above CT |
28 min 5% above CT |
26 minLowest about the CT average |
| Work from home | 17.5%±10Highest CT: 16% |
11.1%±2.3 CT: 16% |
11%±3.5Lowest CT: 16% |
| Crystal Lake and Killingly 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 | #96 of 149 in CT |
| School district | — | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Stafford School District |
| High school in town | — | Killingly High School | Stafford High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1Highest |
9.8Lowest |
| 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.