Compare towns
Ellington vs Plainville vs Suffield 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 youngest population (median age 40.9).
Plainville has the most affordable homes ($254k median).
Suffield has the most expensive homes ($408k median).
Crystal Lake has the highest household income ($144k).
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 | Plainville | Suffield | Crystal Lake |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,455 |
17,551Highest |
15,702 |
2,024Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | — | +10.6% CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 40.9±2.4Lowest about the CT average |
44.3±1.5 8% above CT |
44.5±1.7 8% above CT |
48.9±7.6Highest 19% above CT |
| Crystal Lake and Suffield 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% |
15.6%±2.3Lowest CT: 20.2% |
16.2%±2 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% |
20.1%±2.8 CT: 18.5% |
18.4%±2.2Lowest CT: 18.5% |
23.3%±5.1Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Crystal Lake and Plainville 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% |
30%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
40.4% CT: 42.5% |
45.9% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6%±2.2 CT: 7.1% |
6.2%±1.6 CT: 7.1% |
4.4%±1.2Lowest CT: 7.1% |
6.3%±3.7Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Crystal Lake and Plainville 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 |
$84,343±$7kLowest 12% below CT |
$119,472±$13k 25% above 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±$17k about the CT average |
$254,000±$14kLowest 31% below CT |
$407,500±$26kHighest 11% above CT |
$361,800±$35k about the CT average |
| Suffield and Ellington 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 |
$1,126±$147Lowest 24% below CT |
$1,424±$141 4% below CT |
— |
| Ellington and Suffield 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 |
$4,798Lowest 28% below CT |
$6,456 about the CT average |
$7,146Highest 8% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.5%±10.3 CT: 52.6% |
40.3%±12.4 CT: 52.6% |
51%±4.6Highest CT: 52.6% |
0%±93.3Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Suffield 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% |
6.5%Highest CT: 10% |
4.6% CT: 10% |
1.7%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.2% CT: 66.5% |
67.7%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
86.7% CT: 66.5% |
91.4%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 15 yrs newer than CT |
1971Lowest 4 yrs newer than CT |
1979 12 yrs newer than CT |
1977 10 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 18% above CT |
21 minLowest 20% below CT |
26 min 3% below CT |
39 minHighest 47% above CT |
| Work from home | 18.4%±3.9Highest CT: 16% |
10.7%±2Lowest CT: 16% |
18.4%±4.1Highest CT: 16% |
17.5%±10 CT: 16% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #46 of 149 in CT | #89 of 149 in CT | #57 of 149 in CT | — |
| School district | Ellington School District | Judicial Centers · Plainville School District | Suffield School District | — |
| High school in town | Ellington High School | Plainville High School | Suffield High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3Lowest |
11.4Highest |
10.9 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 6 photos → | None yet | 6 photos → |
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.