Compare towns
Ellington vs Killingly vs Tolland 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).
Killingly has the most affordable homes ($289k median).
Tolland has the most homeowners (90.7%).
Colchester has the oldest population (median age 43.5).
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 | Tolland | Colchester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,455 |
17,867Highest |
14,606Lowest |
15,648 |
| Median age | 40.9±2.4 about the CT average |
39.5±3Lowest 4% below CT |
41.4±2.5 about the CT average |
43.5±3.8Highest 6% above CT |
| Colchester and Tolland 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% |
19.8%±2.3Lowest CT: 20.2% |
22.6%±3 CT: 20.2% |
20.7%±2.8 CT: 20.2% |
| Ellington and Tolland 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% |
15.3%±2.1Lowest CT: 18.5% |
20.3%±2.4Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Colchester 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% CT: 42.5% |
22.9%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
56.2%Highest CT: 42.5% |
49.7% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6%±2.2 CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.9 CT: 7.1% |
7.4%±2.3Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.6%±1.3Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Tolland 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 |
$133,264±$16kHighest 39% above CT |
$122,390±$14k 28% above CT |
| Tolland 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 |
$365,500±$21k about the CT average |
$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 |
$1,044±$141Lowest 30% below CT |
$1,680±$119 13% above CT |
$1,474±$153 about the CT average |
| Ellington and Tolland 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 |
$7,403Highest 11% above CT |
$6,212 6% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.5%±10.3 CT: 52.6% |
42.8%±10.9Lowest CT: 52.6% |
73.5%±62.4Highest CT: 52.6% |
44.4%±10.4 CT: 52.6% |
| Tolland 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% |
11.4%Highest CT: 10% |
5.3% CT: 10% |
3.9% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.2% CT: 66.5% |
71.6%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
90.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
76.5% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 15 yrs newer than CT |
1968Lowest 1 yr newer than CT |
1981 14 yrs newer than CT |
1984Highest 17 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 18% above CT |
28 minLowest 5% above CT |
32 minHighest 20% above CT |
30 min 14% above CT |
| Work from home | 18.4%±3.9 CT: 16% |
11.1%±2.3Lowest CT: 16% |
20.6%±3.6Highest CT: 16% |
18.4%±3.8 CT: 16% |
| Tolland and Ellington 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 | #60 of 149 in CT | #64 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Ellington School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Tolland School District | Colchester School District |
| High school in town | Ellington High School | Killingly High School | Tolland High School | Bacon Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3 |
11.1 |
12.4Highest |
9.8Lowest |
| 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.