Compare towns
Stafford vs Killingly vs Colebrook vs Crystal Lake
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 most affordable homes ($264k median).
Killingly has the youngest population (median age 39.5).
Colebrook has the oldest population (median age 52.1).
Crystal Lake has the most people working from home (17.5%).
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 | Killingly | Colebrook | Crystal Lake |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,511 |
17,867Highest |
1,494Lowest |
2,024 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | — | +10.6% CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 46.7±4.8 14% above CT |
39.5±3Lowest 4% below CT |
52.1±5Highest 27% above CT |
48.9±7.6 19% above CT |
| Colebrook and Crystal Lake 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% |
19.8%±2.3 CT: 20.2% |
17.9%±3.9Lowest CT: 20.2% |
24.5%±7.5Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Crystal Lake 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% |
19.7%±2.4Lowest CT: 18.5% |
26%±4.2Highest CT: 18.5% |
23.3%±5.1 CT: 18.5% |
| Colebrook and Crystal Lake are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.5% CT: 42.5% |
22.9%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
36.6% CT: 42.5% |
45.9%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.3Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.9 CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
6.3%±3.7Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Crystal Lake and Killingly 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 about the CT average |
$84,350±$8kLowest 12% below CT |
$111,250±$17k 16% above CT |
$143,882±$29kHighest 50% above CT |
| Crystal Lake and Colebrook 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 |
$288,600±$15k 21% below CT |
$342,800±$19k 7% below CT |
$361,800±$35kHighest about the CT average |
| Crystal Lake and Colebrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,086±$85 27% below CT |
$1,044±$141Lowest 30% below CT |
$1,333±$626Highest 10% below CT |
— |
| Colebrook and Stafford 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 |
$3,922Lowest 41% below CT |
$6,211 7% below CT |
$7,146Highest 8% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.5%±12.2 CT: 52.6% |
42.8%±10.9Highest CT: 52.6% |
42.1%±55 CT: 52.6% |
0%±93.3Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Killingly and Colebrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.4% CT: 10% |
11.4%Highest CT: 10% |
8.3% CT: 10% |
1.7%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.5% CT: 66.5% |
71.6%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
91.6%Highest CT: 66.5% |
91.4% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 3 yrs newer than CT |
1968 1 yr newer than CT |
1960Lowest 7 yrs older than CT |
1977Highest 10 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest about the CT average |
28 min 5% above CT |
34 min 29% above CT |
39 minHighest 47% above CT |
| Work from home | 11%±3.5 CT: 16% |
11.1%±2.3 CT: 16% |
7%±3.8Lowest CT: 16% |
17.5%±10Highest CT: 16% |
| Crystal Lake and Killingly 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 | #136 of 149 in CT | — | — |
| School district | Stafford School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Colebrook School District | — |
| High school in town | Stafford High School | Killingly High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8Lowest |
11.1Highest |
— | — |
| 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.