Compare towns
Ellington vs Danielson vs Plainfield vs Crystal Lake
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ellington has the most people working from home (18.4%).
Danielson has the most renters (47% rent).
Plainfield has the shortest commute (27 min average).
Crystal Lake has the most homeowners (91.4%).
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 | Ellington | Danielson | Plainfield | Crystal Lake |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,455Highest |
4,209 |
15,141 |
2,024Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +2.6%Lowest CT: +0.9% |
— | +10.6%Highest CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 40.9±2.4 about the CT average |
34.5±3.6Lowest 16% below CT |
37±4.5 10% below CT |
48.9±7.6Highest 19% above 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%±3.2 CT: 20.2% |
18.9%±6.1Lowest CT: 20.2% |
19.4%±2.6 CT: 20.2% |
24.5%±7.5Highest 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+ | 18.8%±2.8 CT: 18.5% |
13.6%±4.9Lowest CT: 18.5% |
16.6%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
23.3%±5.1Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Crystal Lake and Ellington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 51.4%Highest CT: 42.5% |
11.5%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
15% CT: 42.5% |
45.9% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6%±2.2 CT: 7.1% |
9.2%±6.6Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.8Lowest CT: 7.1% |
6.3%±3.7 CT: 7.1% |
| Danielson and Crystal Lake are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $129,913±$17k 36% above CT |
$64,050±$15kLowest 33% below CT |
$76,993±$8k 20% below CT |
$143,882±$29kHighest 50% 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 | $366,900±$17kHighest about the CT average |
$224,600±$13kLowest 39% below CT |
$272,100±$16k 26% below CT |
$361,800±$35k 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 | $1,737±$212Highest 17% above CT |
$1,235±$194 17% below CT |
$1,204±$70Lowest 19% below CT |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,751 about the CT average |
$4,009Lowest 40% below CT |
$4,209 37% below CT |
$7,146Highest 8% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.5%±10.3Highest CT: 52.6% |
44.7%±17.1 CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5 CT: 52.6% |
0%±93.3Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Ellington and Danielson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.4% CT: 10% |
21.1%Highest CT: 10% |
8.7% CT: 10% |
1.7%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.2% CT: 66.5% |
53%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
73.6% CT: 66.5% |
91.4%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 15 yrs newer than CT |
1951Lowest 16 yrs older than CT |
1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
1977 10 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 18% above CT |
28 min 7% above CT |
27 minLowest about the CT average |
39 minHighest 47% above CT |
| Work from home | 18.4%±3.9Highest CT: 16% |
6.6%±5.3Lowest CT: 16% |
10%±4 CT: 16% |
17.5%±10 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 | — | #131 of 149 in CT | — |
| School district | Ellington School District | — | Plainfield School District | — |
| High school in town | Ellington High School | — | Plainfield High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3 |
— | 10.3 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → |
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.