Compare towns
Ellington vs Hampton vs Colchester
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 kids (24% under 18).
Hampton has the most affordable homes ($296k 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 | Ellington | Hampton | Colchester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,455Highest |
1,647Lowest |
15,648 |
| Median age | 40.9±2.4Lowest about the CT average |
51.5±5.3Highest 25% above CT |
43.5±3.8 6% above CT |
| Hampton and Colchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 24%±3.2Highest CT: 20.2% |
19.7%±5.3Lowest CT: 20.2% |
20.7%±2.8 CT: 20.2% |
| Ellington and Colchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.8%±2.8Lowest CT: 18.5% |
26.1%±2.1Highest CT: 18.5% |
20.3%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 51.4%Highest CT: 42.5% |
29.9%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
49.7% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6%±2.2Highest CT: 7.1% |
1.9%±1.1Lowest CT: 7.1% |
4.6%±1.3 CT: 7.1% |
| Ellington and Colchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $129,913±$17kHighest 36% above CT |
$109,167±$19kLowest 14% above CT |
$122,390±$14k 28% above CT |
| Ellington and Colchester 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 |
$295,800±$27kLowest 19% below CT |
$366,800±$16k about the CT average |
| Ellington and Colchester 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 |
$1,285±$288Lowest 14% below CT |
$1,474±$153 about the CT average |
| Ellington and Colchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,751Highest about the CT average |
$4,364Lowest 34% below CT |
$6,212 6% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.5%±10.3 CT: 52.6% |
52.5%±51.5Highest CT: 52.6% |
44.4%±10.4Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Hampton and Ellington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
5.7%Highest CT: 10% |
3.9% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.2%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
90%Highest CT: 66.5% |
76.5% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 15 yrs newer than CT |
1980Lowest 13 yrs newer than CT |
1984Highest 17 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 18% above CT |
29 minLowest 9% above CT |
30 min 14% above CT |
| Work from home | 18.4%±3.9Highest CT: 16% |
17.7%±5.1Lowest CT: 16% |
18.4%±3.8Highest CT: 16% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #46 of 149 in CT | — | #64 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Ellington School District | Hampton School District | Colchester School District |
| High school in town | Ellington High School | None in town | Bacon Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3Highest |
— | 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.