Compare towns
Ellington vs Willimantic 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).
Willimantic has the most renters (65.1% rent).
Tolland 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 | Tolland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,455 |
18,096Highest |
14,606Lowest |
| 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 |
41.4±2.5Highest about the CT average |
| Tolland and Ellington 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% |
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% |
11%±1.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
15.3%±2.1 CT: 18.5% |
| Ellington and Tolland 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% |
24.2%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
56.2%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6%±2.2Lowest CT: 7.1% |
19.1%±2.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
7.4%±2.3 CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $129,913±$17k 36% above CT |
$45,962±$7kLowest 52% 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±$17kHighest about the CT average |
$190,900±$17kLowest 48% below CT |
$365,500±$21k about the CT average |
| Ellington and Tolland 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 |
$1,680±$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 |
$4,678Lowest 30% below CT |
$7,403Highest 11% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.5%±10.3Lowest CT: 52.6% |
55.9%±8.1 CT: 52.6% |
73.5%±62.4Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Tolland 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% |
5.3% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.2% CT: 66.5% |
34.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
90.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 15 yrs newer than CT |
1953Lowest 14 yrs older than CT |
1981 14 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 18% above CT |
23 minLowest 12% below CT |
32 minHighest 20% above CT |
| Work from home | 18.4%±3.9 CT: 16% |
6.2%±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 | — | #60 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Ellington School District | — | Tolland School District |
| High school in town | Ellington High School | — | Tolland High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3Lowest |
— | 12.4Highest |
| 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.