Compare towns
Stafford vs Suffield vs Killingly 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).
Suffield has the most expensive homes ($408k median).
Killingly has the youngest population (median age 39.5).
Crystal Lake has the highest household income ($144k).
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 | Killingly | Crystal Lake |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,511 |
15,702 |
17,867Highest |
2,024Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | — | +10.6% CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 46.7±4.8 14% above CT |
44.5±1.7 8% above CT |
39.5±3Lowest 4% below CT |
48.9±7.6Highest 19% above CT |
| Crystal Lake 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% |
16.2%±2Lowest CT: 20.2% |
19.8%±2.3 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% |
18.4%±2.2Lowest CT: 18.5% |
19.7%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
23.3%±5.1Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Crystal Lake 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% CT: 42.5% |
40.4% CT: 42.5% |
22.9%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
45.9%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.3Lowest CT: 7.1% |
4.4%±1.2 CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.9 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 |
$119,472±$13k 25% above CT |
$84,350±$8kLowest 12% below CT |
$143,882±$29kHighest 50% above CT |
| Crystal Lake 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 |
$288,600±$15k 21% below CT |
$361,800±$35k about the CT average |
| Suffield and Crystal Lake 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 |
$1,424±$141Highest 4% below CT |
$1,044±$141Lowest 30% below CT |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,131 23% below CT |
$6,456 about the CT average |
$3,922Lowest 41% below CT |
$7,146Highest 8% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.5%±12.2 CT: 52.6% |
51%±4.6Highest CT: 52.6% |
42.8%±10.9 CT: 52.6% |
0%±93.3Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Suffield and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.4% CT: 10% |
4.6% CT: 10% |
11.4%Highest CT: 10% |
1.7%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.5% CT: 66.5% |
86.7% CT: 66.5% |
71.6%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
91.4%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 3 yrs newer than CT |
1979Highest 12 yrs newer than CT |
1968Lowest 1 yr newer than CT |
1977 10 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the CT average |
26 minLowest 3% below CT |
28 min 5% above CT |
39 minHighest 47% above CT |
| Work from home | 11%±3.5Lowest CT: 16% |
18.4%±4.1Highest CT: 16% |
11.1%±2.3 CT: 16% |
17.5%±10 CT: 16% |
| Suffield and Crystal Lake 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 | #57 of 149 in CT | #136 of 149 in CT | — |
| School district | Stafford School District | Suffield School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | — |
| High school in town | Stafford High School | Suffield High School | Killingly High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8Lowest |
10.9 |
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.