What stands out worked out from the figures below

Ellington has the most kids (24% under 18).

Southwick has the most homeowners (83.4%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Ellington	Southwick
People
Population	16,455Highest	9,217Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	-2.8% U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	40.9±2.4Lowest 5% above U.S.	46.8±1.8Highest 20% above U.S.
Kids under 18	24%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22%	18.2%±3Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Ellington and Southwick 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%	21%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Southwick and Ellington 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 U.S.: 35.7%	35.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4%	4.5%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Ellington and Southwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$129,913±$17kHighest 61% above U.S.	$120,462±$16kLowest 49% above U.S.
	Ellington and Southwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$366,900±$17kLowest 10% above U.S.	$397,500±$27kHighest 19% above U.S.
	Southwick 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 23% above U.S.	$1,332±$72Lowest 6% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,751Highest 116% above U.S.	$5,331Lowest 71% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	45.5%±10.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	51%±10Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Southwick 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 U.S.: 12.5%	4%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	72.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	83.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S.	1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minHighest 18% above U.S.	29 minLowest 8% above U.S.
Work from home	18.4%±3.9Highest U.S.: 15.1%	16.2%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Ellington and Southwick 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	#211 of 282 in MA
School district	Ellington School District	Southwick-Tolland-Granville Regional School District
High school in town	Ellington High School	Southwick Regional School
Students per teacherat that high school	10.3Lowest	11.0Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.