Compare towns
Stafford vs Suffield 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 most affordable homes ($264k median).
Suffield has the most expensive homes ($408k median).
Ellington has the most kids (24% under 18).
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 | Suffield | Ellington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,511Lowest |
15,702 |
16,455Highest |
| Median age | 46.7±4.8Highest 14% above CT |
44.5±1.7 8% above CT |
40.9±2.4Lowest about the CT average |
| Stafford and Suffield 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% |
16.2%±2Lowest 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%±3Highest CT: 18.5% |
18.4%±2.2Lowest CT: 18.5% |
18.8%±2.8 CT: 18.5% |
| Stafford and Ellington 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% |
40.4% CT: 42.5% |
51.4%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.3Lowest CT: 7.1% |
4.4%±1.2 CT: 7.1% |
6%±2.2Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Ellington and Suffield 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 |
$119,472±$13k 25% above CT |
$129,913±$17kHighest 36% above CT |
| Ellington and Suffield 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 |
$407,500±$26kHighest 11% above CT |
$366,900±$17k about the CT average |
| Suffield and Ellington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,086±$85Lowest 27% below CT |
$1,424±$141 4% below CT |
$1,737±$212Highest 17% above CT |
| Ellington and Suffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,131Lowest 23% below CT |
$6,456 about the CT average |
$6,751Highest about the CT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.5%±12.2Lowest CT: 52.6% |
51%±4.6Highest CT: 52.6% |
45.5%±10.3 CT: 52.6% |
| Suffield 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% |
4.6% CT: 10% |
2.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.5% CT: 66.5% |
86.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
72.2%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970Lowest 3 yrs newer than CT |
1979 12 yrs newer than CT |
1982Highest 15 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the CT average |
26 minLowest 3% below CT |
31 minHighest 18% above CT |
| Work from home | 11%±3.5Lowest CT: 16% |
18.4%±4.1Highest CT: 16% |
18.4%±3.9Highest CT: 16% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #96 of 149 in CT | #57 of 149 in CT | #46 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Stafford School District | Suffield School District | Ellington School District |
| High school in town | Stafford High School | Suffield High School | Ellington High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8Lowest |
10.9Highest |
10.3 |
| 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.