Compare towns
Ellington vs Killingly vs Redding 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
Killingly has the most affordable homes ($289k median).
Redding has the most expensive homes ($706k median).
Crystal Lake has the most kids (24.5% under 18).
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 | Redding | Crystal Lake |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,455 |
17,867Highest |
8,780 |
2,024Lowest |
| 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 |
52±2Highest 27% above CT |
48.9±7.6 19% above CT |
| Redding and Crystal Lake 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% |
19.1%±2.8Lowest 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%±2.8Lowest CT: 18.5% |
19.7%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
26.4%±3.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
23.3%±5.1 CT: 18.5% |
| Redding 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+ | 51.4% CT: 42.5% |
22.9%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
72.1%Highest CT: 42.5% |
45.9% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6%±2.2 CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.9 CT: 7.1% |
3.8%±1.8Lowest CT: 7.1% |
6.3%±3.7Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Crystal Lake and Ellington 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 |
$186,060±$15kHighest 94% above CT |
$143,882±$29k 50% above CT |
| Redding and Crystal Lake are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $366,900±$17k about the CT average |
$288,600±$15kLowest 21% below CT |
$706,300±$33kHighest 93% above CT |
$361,800±$35k about the CT average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,737±$212 17% above CT |
$1,044±$141Lowest 30% below CT |
$2,101±$304Highest 41% above CT |
— |
| Redding and Ellington 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 51% above CT |
$7,146 8% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.5%±10.3 CT: 52.6% |
42.8%±10.9 CT: 52.6% |
64.9%±19.3Highest CT: 52.6% |
0%±93.3Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Redding 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% |
4% CT: 10% |
1.7%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.2% CT: 66.5% |
71.6%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
91.6%Highest CT: 66.5% |
91.4% 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 minLowest 5% above CT |
36 min 36% above CT |
39 minHighest 47% above CT |
| Work from home | 18.4%±3.9 CT: 16% |
11.1%±2.3Lowest CT: 16% |
32.5%±4.9Highest CT: 16% |
17.5%±10 CT: 16% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #46 of 149 in CT | #136 of 149 in CT | #14 of 149 in CT | — |
| School district | Ellington School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Redding School District · Regional School District 09 | — |
| High school in town | Ellington High School | Killingly High School | Joel Barlow 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.