Compare towns

Ellington vs Killingly vs Middletown 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%).
Killingly has the most affordable homes ($289k median).
Middletown has the most renters (47.1% rent).
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.

MeasureEllingtonKillinglyMiddletownCrystal Lake
People
Population
16,455
17,867
47,958Highest
2,024Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census — —
+0.1%Lowest
CT: +0.9%
+10.6%Highest
CT: +0.9%
Median age
40.9±2.4
about the CT average
39.5±3
4% below CT
38.1±1.5Lowest
7% 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%
19.8%±2.3
CT: 20.2%
14.3%±1.3Lowest
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%
19.7%±2.4
CT: 18.5%
16.5%±1.3Lowest
CT: 18.5%
23.3%±5.1Highest
CT: 18.5%
Crystal Lake and Killingly 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%
40.2%
CT: 42.5%
45.9%
CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
6%±2.2
CT: 7.1%
5.4%±1.9Lowest
CT: 7.1%
15.5%±1.4Highest
CT: 7.1%
6.3%±3.7
CT: 7.1%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$129,913±$17k
36% above CT
$84,350±$8k
12% below CT
$79,438±$6kLowest
17% 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
$288,600±$15kLowest
21% below CT
$295,300±$11k
20% 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
$1,044±$141Lowest
30% below CT
$1,446±$45
about the CT average
—
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,751
about the CT average
$3,922Lowest
41% below CT
$6,412
3% below CT
$7,146Highest
8% above CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
45.5%±10.3
CT: 52.6%
42.8%±10.9
CT: 52.6%
47.7%±5.3Highest
CT: 52.6%
0%±93.3Lowest
CT: 52.6%
Middletown 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%
CT: 10%
12%Highest
CT: 10%
1.7%Lowest
CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
72.2%
CT: 66.5%
71.6%
CT: 66.5%
52.9%Lowest
CT: 66.5%
91.4%Highest
CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1982Highest
15 yrs newer than CT
1968Lowest
1 yr newer than CT
1972
5 yrs newer than CT
1977
10 yrs newer than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
31 min
18% above CT
28 min
5% above CT
23 minLowest
12% below CT
39 minHighest
47% above CT
Work from home
18.4%±3.9Highest
CT: 16%
11.1%±2.3Lowest
CT: 16%
14.1%±1.8
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 #136 of 149 in CT #121 of 149 in CT —
School district Ellington School District Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services —
High school in town Ellington High School Killingly High School Middletown High School —
Students per teacherat that high school
10.3Lowest
11.1
11.8Highest
—
On TownTapestry
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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.