Compare towns
Stafford vs Hampton vs Ellington
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Stafford has the shortest commute (26 min average).
Hampton has the most homeowners (90%).
Ellington has the most expensive homes ($367k median).
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 | Stafford | Hampton | Ellington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,511 |
1,647Lowest |
16,455Highest |
| Median age | 46.7±4.8 14% above CT |
51.5±5.3Highest 25% above CT |
40.9±2.4Lowest about the CT average |
| Hampton and Stafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.5%±3.1 CT: 20.2% |
19.7%±5.3Lowest CT: 20.2% |
24%±3.2Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Ellington and Stafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22%±3 CT: 18.5% |
26.1%±2.1Highest CT: 18.5% |
18.8%±2.8Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Hampton and Stafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.5%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
29.9% CT: 42.5% |
51.4%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.3 CT: 7.1% |
1.9%±1.1Lowest CT: 7.1% |
6%±2.2Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Ellington and Stafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $93,235±$16kLowest about the CT average |
$109,167±$19k 14% above CT |
$129,913±$17kHighest 36% above CT |
| Ellington and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $263,800±$22kLowest 28% below CT |
$295,800±$27k 19% below CT |
$366,900±$17kHighest about the CT average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,086±$85Lowest 27% below CT |
$1,285±$288 14% below CT |
$1,737±$212Highest 17% above CT |
| Ellington and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,131 23% below CT |
$4,364Lowest 34% below CT |
$6,751Highest about the CT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.5%±12.2Lowest CT: 52.6% |
52.5%±51.5Highest CT: 52.6% |
45.5%±10.3 CT: 52.6% |
| Hampton and Ellington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.4%Highest CT: 10% |
5.7% CT: 10% |
2.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.5% CT: 66.5% |
90%Highest CT: 66.5% |
72.2%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970Lowest 3 yrs newer than CT |
1980 13 yrs newer than CT |
1982Highest 15 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest about the CT average |
29 min 9% above CT |
31 minHighest 18% above CT |
| Work from home | 11%±3.5Lowest CT: 16% |
17.7%±5.1 CT: 16% |
18.4%±3.9Highest CT: 16% |
| Ellington and Hampton 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 | #96 of 149 in CT | — | #46 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Stafford School District | Hampton School District | Ellington School District |
| High school in town | Stafford High School | None in town | Ellington High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8Lowest |
— | 10.3Highest |
| 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.