Compare towns
Ellington vs Stafford vs Suffield
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).
Stafford has the most affordable homes ($264k median).
Suffield has the most expensive homes ($408k 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 | Stafford | Suffield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,455Highest |
11,511Lowest |
15,702 |
| Median age | 40.9±2.4Lowest about the CT average |
46.7±4.8Highest 14% above CT |
44.5±1.7 8% above CT |
| Stafford and Suffield 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% |
21.5%±3.1 CT: 20.2% |
16.2%±2Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Ellington and Stafford 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% |
22%±3Highest CT: 18.5% |
18.4%±2.2Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Stafford 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 CT: 42.5% |
28.5%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
40.4% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6%±2.2Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.5%±1.3Lowest CT: 7.1% |
4.4%±1.2 CT: 7.1% |
| Ellington and Suffield 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 36% above CT |
$93,235±$16kLowest about the CT average |
$119,472±$13k 25% above CT |
| Ellington and Suffield 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 |
$263,800±$22kLowest 28% below CT |
$407,500±$26kHighest 11% above CT |
| 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 |
$1,086±$85Lowest 27% 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 | $6,751Highest about the CT average |
$5,131Lowest 23% below CT |
$6,456 about the CT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.5%±10.3 CT: 52.6% |
41.5%±12.2Lowest CT: 52.6% |
51%±4.6Highest 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%Lowest CT: 10% |
7.4%Highest CT: 10% |
4.6% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.2%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
79.5% CT: 66.5% |
86.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 15 yrs newer than CT |
1970Lowest 3 yrs newer than CT |
1979 12 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 18% above CT |
26 min about the CT average |
26 minLowest 3% below CT |
| Work from home | 18.4%±3.9Highest CT: 16% |
11%±3.5Lowest CT: 16% |
18.4%±4.1Highest CT: 16% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #46 of 149 in CT | #96 of 149 in CT | #57 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Ellington School District | Stafford School District | Suffield School District |
| High school in town | Ellington High School | Stafford High School | Suffield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3 |
9.8Lowest |
10.9Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.

