Compare towns
Ellington vs Suffield vs Plainville 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).
Suffield has the most expensive homes ($408k median).
Plainville has the most affordable homes ($254k median).
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 | Suffield | Plainville | Tolland |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,455 |
15,702 |
17,551Highest |
14,606Lowest |
| Median age | 40.9±2.4Lowest about the CT average |
44.5±1.7Highest 8% above CT |
44.3±1.5 8% above CT |
41.4±2.5 about the CT average |
| Suffield and Plainville 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% |
16.2%±2 CT: 20.2% |
15.6%±2.3Lowest 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%±2.8 CT: 18.5% |
18.4%±2.2 CT: 18.5% |
20.1%±2.8Highest CT: 18.5% |
15.3%±2.1Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Plainville 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% CT: 42.5% |
40.4% CT: 42.5% |
30%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
56.2%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6%±2.2 CT: 7.1% |
4.4%±1.2Lowest CT: 7.1% |
6.2%±1.6 CT: 7.1% |
7.4%±2.3Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Tolland 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 |
$119,472±$13k 25% above CT |
$84,343±$7kLowest 12% below CT |
$133,264±$16kHighest 39% above CT |
| Tolland 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 |
$407,500±$26kHighest 11% above CT |
$254,000±$14kLowest 31% below CT |
$365,500±$21k 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 |
$1,424±$141 4% below CT |
$1,126±$147Lowest 24% below CT |
$1,680±$119 13% above CT |
| Ellington and Tolland 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 |
$6,456 about the CT average |
$4,798Lowest 28% below CT |
$7,403Highest 11% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.5%±10.3 CT: 52.6% |
51%±4.6 CT: 52.6% |
40.3%±12.4Lowest CT: 52.6% |
73.5%±62.4Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Tolland and Suffield 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% |
4.6% CT: 10% |
6.5%Highest CT: 10% |
5.3% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.2% CT: 66.5% |
86.7% CT: 66.5% |
67.7%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
90.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 15 yrs newer than CT |
1979 12 yrs newer than CT |
1971Lowest 4 yrs newer than CT |
1981 14 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 18% above CT |
26 min 3% below CT |
21 minLowest 20% below CT |
32 minHighest 20% above CT |
| Work from home | 18.4%±3.9 CT: 16% |
18.4%±4.1 CT: 16% |
10.7%±2Lowest 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 | #57 of 149 in CT | #89 of 149 in CT | #60 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Ellington School District | Suffield School District | Judicial Centers · Plainville School District | Tolland School District |
| High school in town | Ellington High School | Suffield High School | Plainville High School | Tolland High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3Lowest |
10.9 |
11.4 |
12.4Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.