Compare towns
Stafford vs Hardwick vs Ellington
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Stafford has the most affordable homes ($264k median).
Hardwick has the most renters (31.8% rent).
Ellington has the most people working from home (18.4%).
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 | Hardwick | Ellington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,511 |
2,684Lowest |
16,455Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -10.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 46.7±4.8Highest 20% above U.S. |
45.3±9.8 16% above U.S. |
40.9±2.4Lowest 5% above U.S. |
| Stafford and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.5%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
24%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Ellington and Stafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.7%±5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hardwick 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
30.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
51.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±4.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
6%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hardwick and Ellington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $93,235±$16k 15% above U.S. |
$75,000±$22kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$129,913±$17kHighest 61% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $263,800±$22kLowest 21% below U.S. |
$346,700±$67k 4% above U.S. |
$366,900±$17kHighest 10% above U.S. |
| Ellington and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,086±$85Lowest 23% below U.S. |
$1,108±$119 22% below U.S. |
$1,737±$212Highest 23% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,131 65% above U.S. |
$4,400Lowest 41% above U.S. |
$6,751Highest 116% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.5%±12.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±13.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.5%±10.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hardwick and Ellington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
11%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
68.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.7%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.4%±3.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ellington and Stafford 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 | #163 of 282 in MA | #46 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Stafford School District | Quabbin | 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 |
U.S. 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.