Compare towns
Stafford vs Sutton 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).
Sutton has the most expensive homes ($523k 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 | Sutton | Ellington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,511 |
9,452Lowest |
16,455Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 46.7±4.8Highest 20% above U.S. |
44.3±2.5 14% above U.S. |
40.9±2.4Lowest 5% above U.S. |
| Stafford and Sutton 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% |
19.6%±3.3Lowest 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%±3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Stafford and Sutton 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% |
52.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
51.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
6%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Ellington and Sutton 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 15% above U.S. |
$147,125±$25kHighest 82% above U.S. |
$129,913±$17k 61% above U.S. |
| Sutton and Ellington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $263,800±$22kLowest 21% below U.S. |
$523,100±$47kHighest 57% above U.S. |
$366,900±$17k 10% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,086±$85Lowest 23% below U.S. |
$1,190±$401 16% below U.S. |
$1,737±$212Highest 23% above U.S. |
| Ellington and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,131Lowest 65% above U.S. |
$6,763Highest 117% above U.S. |
$6,751 116% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.5%±12.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.5%±24.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.5%±10.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Sutton 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970Lowest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.4%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sutton and Ellington 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 | #105 of 282 in MA | #46 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Stafford School District | Sutton | Ellington School District |
| High school in town | Stafford High School | Sutton High School | Ellington High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8Lowest |
12.6Highest |
10.3 |
| 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.