Compare towns

Crystal Lake vs Killingly vs Suffield vs Eastford

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 kids (24.5% under 18).
Killingly has the most affordable homes ($289k median).
Suffield has the most expensive homes ($408k 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.

MeasureCrystal LakeKillinglySuffieldEastford
People
Population
2,024
17,867Highest
15,702
1,679Lowest
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
44.5±1.7
8% above CT
48.3±5.9
18% above CT
Crystal Lake and Eastford 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%
16.2%±2Lowest
CT: 20.2%
17.1%±2.9
CT: 20.2%
Crystal Lake and Killingly 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%
19.7%±2.4
CT: 18.5%
18.4%±2.2Lowest
CT: 18.5%
25.5%±3.7Highest
CT: 18.5%
Eastford 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%Highest
CT: 42.5%
22.9%Lowest
CT: 42.5%
40.4%
CT: 42.5%
39.4%
CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
6.3%±3.7Highest
CT: 7.1%
5.4%±1.9
CT: 7.1%
4.4%±1.2Lowest
CT: 7.1%
5.4%±3.7
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
$119,472±$13k
25% above CT
$97,422±$20k
about the CT average
Crystal Lake and Suffield 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±$15kLowest
21% below CT
$407,500±$26kHighest
11% above CT
$355,500±$16k
3% below CT
Suffield 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
$1,424±$141Highest
4% below CT
$1,097±$173
26% below CT
Property taxmedian, yearly
$7,146Highest
8% above CT
$3,922Lowest
41% below CT
$6,456
about the CT average
$4,493
32% below CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
0%±93.3Lowest
CT: 52.6%
42.8%±10.9
CT: 52.6%
51%±4.6Highest
CT: 52.6%
42.9%±32.6
CT: 52.6%
Suffield and Eastford 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%
4.6%
CT: 10%
6.2%
CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
91.4%Highest
CT: 66.5%
71.6%Lowest
CT: 66.5%
86.7%
CT: 66.5%
84%
CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1977
10 yrs newer than CT
1968Lowest
1 yr newer than CT
1979
12 yrs newer than CT
1981Highest
14 yrs newer than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
39 minHighest
47% above CT
28 min
5% above CT
26 minLowest
3% below CT
35 min
33% above CT
Work from home
17.5%±10
CT: 16%
11.1%±2.3Lowest
CT: 16%
18.4%±4.1Highest
CT: 16%
14.6%±6.4
CT: 16%
Suffield 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 #57 of 149 in CT —
School district — Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS Suffield School District Eastford School District
High school in town — Killingly High School Suffield High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school —
11.1Highest
10.9Lowest
—
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.