Compare towns
Ellington vs Killingly vs Crystal Lake vs Cromwell
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 expensive homes ($367k median).
Killingly has the most affordable homes ($289k median).
Crystal Lake has the oldest population (median age 48.9).
Cromwell has the shortest commute (24 min average).
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 | Killingly | Crystal Lake | Cromwell |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,455 |
17,867Highest |
2,024Lowest |
14,334 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | +10.6% CT: +0.9% |
— |
| Median age | 40.9±2.4 about the CT average |
39.5±3Lowest 4% below CT |
48.9±7.6Highest 19% above CT |
43.5±2.5 6% above CT |
| Crystal Lake and Cromwell 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% |
19.8%±2.3 CT: 20.2% |
24.5%±7.5Highest CT: 20.2% |
19.1%±3.1Lowest 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%±2.8Lowest CT: 18.5% |
19.7%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
23.3%±5.1Highest CT: 18.5% |
22%±3.2 CT: 18.5% |
| Crystal Lake and Cromwell 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% |
22.9%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
45.9% CT: 42.5% |
49.2% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6%±2.2 CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.9Lowest CT: 7.1% |
6.3%±3.7 CT: 7.1% |
6.4%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Cromwell 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 |
$84,350±$8kLowest 12% below CT |
$143,882±$29kHighest 50% above CT |
$110,596±$10k 15% 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 |
$288,600±$15kLowest 21% below CT |
$361,800±$35k about the CT average |
$325,200±$22k 11% below CT |
| 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 |
$1,044±$141Lowest 30% below CT |
— | $1,628±$154 9% above CT |
| Ellington and Cromwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,751 about the CT average |
$3,922Lowest 41% below CT |
$7,146Highest 8% above CT |
$6,137 8% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.5%±10.3 CT: 52.6% |
42.8%±10.9 CT: 52.6% |
0%±93.3Lowest CT: 52.6% |
61%±11.9Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Cromwell and Ellington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.4% CT: 10% |
11.4%Highest CT: 10% |
1.7%Lowest CT: 10% |
5.9% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.2% CT: 66.5% |
71.6%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
91.4%Highest CT: 66.5% |
82.4% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 15 yrs newer than CT |
1968Lowest 1 yr newer than CT |
1977 10 yrs newer than CT |
1976 9 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 18% above CT |
28 min 5% above CT |
39 minHighest 47% above CT |
24 minLowest 11% below CT |
| Work from home | 18.4%±3.9Highest CT: 16% |
11.1%±2.3Lowest CT: 16% |
17.5%±10 CT: 16% |
18.4%±4Highest CT: 16% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #46 of 149 in CT | #136 of 149 in CT | — | #69 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Ellington School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | — | Cromwell School District |
| High school in town | Ellington High School | Killingly High School | — | Cromwell High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3Lowest |
11.1Highest |
— | 11.1Highest |
| 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.