Compare towns
Ellington vs Willimantic vs Coventry vs Colchester
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).
Willimantic has the most renters (65.1% rent).
Coventry has the most homeowners (90.7%).
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 | Willimantic | Coventry | Colchester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,455 |
18,096Highest |
12,326Lowest |
15,648 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +2.3% CT: +0.9% |
— | — |
| Median age | 40.9±2.4 about the CT average |
31.3±2.7Lowest 24% below CT |
45.4±3.8Highest 10% above CT |
43.5±3.8 6% above CT |
| Coventry and Colchester 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% |
20.6%±2.5Lowest CT: 20.2% |
20.9%±3.2 CT: 20.2% |
20.7%±2.8 CT: 20.2% |
| Ellington and Coventry 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% |
11%±1.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
20.2%±3.3 CT: 18.5% |
20.3%±2.4Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Colchester and Coventry 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% |
24.2%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
45% CT: 42.5% |
49.7% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6%±2.2 CT: 7.1% |
19.1%±2.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.3%±2Lowest CT: 7.1% |
4.6%±1.3 CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $129,913±$17kHighest 36% above CT |
$45,962±$7kLowest 52% below CT |
$108,213±$5k 13% above CT |
$122,390±$14k 28% above CT |
| Ellington and Colchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $366,900±$17kHighest about the CT average |
$190,900±$17kLowest 48% below CT |
$330,000±$23k 10% below CT |
$366,800±$16k about the CT average |
| Ellington and Colchester 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 |
$1,063±$68Lowest 29% below CT |
$1,232±$330 17% below CT |
$1,474±$153 about the CT average |
| Ellington and Colchester 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 |
$4,678Lowest 30% below CT |
$5,284 20% below CT |
$6,212 6% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.5%±10.3 CT: 52.6% |
55.9%±8.1 CT: 52.6% |
62.7%±23.8Highest CT: 52.6% |
44.4%±10.4Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Coventry and Willimantic 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% |
23.4%Highest CT: 10% |
5.1% CT: 10% |
3.9% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.2% CT: 66.5% |
34.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
90.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
76.5% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 15 yrs newer than CT |
1953Lowest 14 yrs older than CT |
1966 1 yr older than CT |
1984Highest 17 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 18% above CT |
23 minLowest 12% below CT |
27 min about the CT average |
30 min 14% above CT |
| Work from home | 18.4%±3.9Highest CT: 16% |
6.2%±2Lowest CT: 16% |
15.6%±4.6 CT: 16% |
18.4%±3.8Highest CT: 16% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #46 of 149 in CT | — | #41 of 149 in CT | #64 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Ellington School District | — | Coventry School District | Colchester School District |
| High school in town | Ellington High School | — | Coventry High School | Bacon Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3Highest |
— | 9.9 |
9.8Lowest |
| 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.