Compare towns
Stafford vs Thompson 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 shortest commute (26 min average).
Thompson has the oldest population (median age 54.1).
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 | Thompson | Ellington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,511 |
9,337Lowest |
16,455Highest |
| Median age | 46.7±4.8 14% above CT |
54.1±2.2Highest 32% above CT |
40.9±2.4Lowest about the CT average |
| Kids under 18 | 21.5%±3.1 CT: 20.2% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest 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%±3 CT: 18.5% |
24.4%±4.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
18.8%±2.8Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Thompson 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% |
21.9%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
51.4%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.3 CT: 7.1% |
2.9%±1.3Lowest CT: 7.1% |
6%±2.2Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Ellington and Stafford 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 |
$93,629±$18k about the CT average |
$129,913±$17kHighest 36% above CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $263,800±$22kLowest 28% below CT |
$291,900±$24k 20% below CT |
$366,900±$17kHighest about the CT average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,086±$85 27% below CT |
$1,012±$344Lowest 32% below CT |
$1,737±$212Highest 17% above CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,131 23% below CT |
$3,822Lowest 42% below CT |
$6,751Highest about the CT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.5%±12.2Lowest CT: 52.6% |
54%±18.7Highest CT: 52.6% |
45.5%±10.3 CT: 52.6% |
| Thompson 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% |
5.9% CT: 10% |
2.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.5% CT: 66.5% |
84.3%Highest CT: 66.5% |
72.2%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 3 yrs newer than CT |
1963Lowest 4 yrs older than CT |
1982Highest 15 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest about the CT average |
32 minHighest 20% above CT |
31 min 18% above CT |
| Work from home | 11%±3.5Lowest CT: 16% |
13.1%±4.4 CT: 16% |
18.4%±3.9Highest CT: 16% |
| Ellington and Thompson 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 | #130 of 149 in CT | #46 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Stafford School District | Thompson School District | Ellington School District |
| High school in town | Stafford High School | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | Ellington High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8 |
7.9Lowest |
10.3Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.