Compare towns
Ellington vs Vernon vs Willimantic
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 highest household income ($130k).
Willimantic has the most renters (65.1% rent).
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 | Vernon | Willimantic |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,455Lowest |
30,577Highest |
18,096 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | +2.3% CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 40.9±2.4Highest about the CT average |
39.4±2.5 4% below CT |
31.3±2.7Lowest 24% below CT |
| Ellington and Vernon 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% |
16.9%±2Lowest CT: 20.2% |
20.6%±2.5 CT: 20.2% |
| Ellington and Willimantic 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% |
18.6%±1.7 CT: 18.5% |
11%±1.7Lowest 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%Highest CT: 42.5% |
38% CT: 42.5% |
24.2%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6%±2.2Lowest CT: 7.1% |
7.8%±1.2 CT: 7.1% |
19.1%±2.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $129,913±$17kHighest 36% above CT |
$85,356±$6k 11% below CT |
$45,962±$7kLowest 52% below CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $366,900±$17kHighest about the CT average |
$275,500±$11k 25% below CT |
$190,900±$17kLowest 48% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,737±$212Highest 17% above CT |
$1,425±$77 4% below CT |
$1,063±$68Lowest 29% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,751Highest about the CT average |
$5,804 13% below CT |
$4,678Lowest 30% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.5%±10.3 CT: 52.6% |
39.3%±5.7Lowest CT: 52.6% |
55.9%±8.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Willimantic 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% |
13.4% CT: 10% |
23.4%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
53.2% CT: 66.5% |
34.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 15 yrs newer than CT |
1968 1 yr newer than CT |
1953Lowest 14 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 18% above CT |
27 min about the CT average |
23 minLowest 12% below CT |
| Work from home | 18.4%±3.9Highest CT: 16% |
13.4%±2.5 CT: 16% |
6.2%±2Lowest CT: 16% |
| Ellington and Vernon 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 | — |
| School district | Ellington School District | Vernon School District | — |
| High school in town | Ellington High School | Rockville High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3Lowest |
12.1Highest |
— |
| 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.