Compare towns
Ellington vs Lancaster vs Sutton vs Colchester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ellington has the most kids (24% under 18).
Lancaster has the most people working from home (33.6%).
Sutton has the highest household income ($147k).
Colchester has the most affordable homes ($367k 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 | Lancaster | Sutton | Colchester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,455Highest |
8,606Lowest |
9,452 |
15,648 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +4.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 40.9±2.4Lowest 5% above U.S. |
43.1±4.9 11% above U.S. |
44.3±2.5Highest 14% above U.S. |
43.5±3.8 12% above U.S. |
| Sutton 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 U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
20.7%±2.8 U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.9%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.3%±2.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Colchester and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 51.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
50.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
52.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
49.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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±$17k 61% above U.S. |
$134,833±$27k 67% above U.S. |
$147,125±$25kHighest 82% above U.S. |
$122,390±$14kLowest 52% above U.S. |
| Sutton and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $366,900±$17k 10% above U.S. |
$519,100±$60k 56% above U.S. |
$523,100±$47kHighest 57% above U.S. |
$366,800±$16kLowest 10% above U.S. |
| Sutton and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,737±$212 23% above U.S. |
$2,338±$539Highest 65% above U.S. |
$1,190±$401Lowest 16% below U.S. |
$1,474±$153 4% above U.S. |
| Lancaster and Ellington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,751 116% above U.S. |
$7,235Highest 132% above U.S. |
$6,763 117% above U.S. |
$6,212Lowest 99% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.5%±10.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
68.3%±36.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.5%±24.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.4%±10.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lancaster and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
76.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 18% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
30 minLowest 12% above U.S. |
30 min 15% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.4%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
33.6%±9.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.4%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lancaster and Sutton 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 | #145 of 282 in MA | #105 of 282 in MA | #64 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Ellington School District | Nashoba | Sutton | Colchester School District |
| High school in town | Ellington High School | None in town | Sutton High School | Bacon Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3 |
— | 12.6Highest |
9.8Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.