Compare towns
Ellington vs Stepney vs Vernon vs Tolland
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).
Stepney has the most expensive homes ($476k median).
Vernon has the most renters (46.8% rent).
Tolland has the most people working from home (20.6%).
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 | Stepney | Vernon | Tolland |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,455 |
3,979Lowest |
30,577Highest |
14,606 |
| Median age | 40.9±2.4 about the CT average |
47.1±5.6Highest 15% above CT |
39.4±2.5Lowest 4% below CT |
41.4±2.5 about the CT average |
| Stepney 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% |
21.1%±5.6 CT: 20.2% |
16.9%±2Lowest CT: 20.2% |
22.6%±3 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%±2.8Highest CT: 18.5% |
17.7%±4.1 CT: 18.5% |
18.6%±1.7 CT: 18.5% |
15.3%±2.1Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Ellington and Vernon 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% |
54.2% CT: 42.5% |
38%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
56.2%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6%±2.2Lowest CT: 7.1% |
10.1%±5.4Highest CT: 7.1% |
7.8%±1.2 CT: 7.1% |
7.4%±2.3 CT: 7.1% |
| Stepney and Vernon 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 |
$153,966±$16kHighest 61% above CT |
$85,356±$6kLowest 11% below CT |
$133,264±$16k 39% above CT |
| Stepney and Tolland 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 |
$475,800±$53kHighest 30% above CT |
$275,500±$11kLowest 25% below CT |
$365,500±$21k about the CT average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,737±$212 17% above CT |
$2,750±$1kHighest 85% above CT |
$1,425±$77Lowest 4% below CT |
$1,680±$119 13% above CT |
| Stepney and Ellington 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 |
$9,309Highest 40% above CT |
$5,804Lowest 13% below CT |
$7,403 11% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.5%±10.3 CT: 52.6% |
63.2%±48.8 CT: 52.6% |
39.3%±5.7Lowest CT: 52.6% |
73.5%±62.4Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Tolland and Stepney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.4% CT: 10% |
0.8%Lowest CT: 10% |
13.4%Highest CT: 10% |
5.3% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.2% CT: 66.5% |
96.4%Highest CT: 66.5% |
53.2%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
90.7% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 15 yrs newer than CT |
1982Highest 15 yrs newer than CT |
1968Lowest 1 yr newer than CT |
1981 14 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 18% above CT |
37 minHighest 41% above CT |
27 minLowest about the CT average |
32 min 20% above CT |
| Work from home | 18.4%±3.9 CT: 16% |
9.8%±4.3Lowest CT: 16% |
13.4%±2.5 CT: 16% |
20.6%±3.6Highest 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 | — | #107 of 149 in CT | #60 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Ellington School District | — | Vernon School District | Tolland School District |
| High school in town | Ellington High School | — | Rockville High School | Tolland High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3Lowest |
— | 12.1 |
12.4Highest |
| 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.