Compare towns
Stafford vs Windham 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 oldest population (median age 46.7).
Windham has the most renters (52.6% rent).
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 | Windham | Ellington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,511Lowest |
23,961Highest |
16,455 |
| Median age | 46.7±4.8Highest 14% above CT |
33.7±1.9Lowest 18% below CT |
40.9±2.4 about the CT average |
| Stafford and Ellington 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% |
20.1%±2.4Lowest 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% |
14.3%±1.9Lowest 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% CT: 42.5% |
22.7%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
51.4%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.3Lowest CT: 7.1% |
15.2%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
6%±2.2 CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $93,235±$16k about the CT average |
$55,736±$5kLowest 42% below CT |
$129,913±$17kHighest 36% above CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $263,800±$22k 28% below CT |
$209,800±$9kLowest 43% below CT |
$366,900±$17kHighest about the CT average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,086±$85Lowest 27% below CT |
$1,107±$69 26% below CT |
$1,737±$212Highest 17% above CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,131 23% below CT |
$4,633Lowest 30% below CT |
$6,751Highest about the CT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.5%±12.2Lowest CT: 52.6% |
57.1%±8.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
45.5%±10.3 CT: 52.6% |
| Windham and Ellington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.4% CT: 10% |
20.7%Highest CT: 10% |
2.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.5%Highest CT: 66.5% |
47.4%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
72.2% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 3 yrs newer than CT |
1956Lowest 11 yrs older than CT |
1982Highest 15 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the CT average |
24 minLowest 8% below CT |
31 minHighest 18% above CT |
| Work from home | 11%±3.5 CT: 16% |
6.1%±1.7Lowest CT: 16% |
18.4%±3.9Highest CT: 16% |
| Ellington and Stafford 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 | #143 of 149 in CT | #46 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Stafford School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Ellington School District |
| High school in town | Stafford High School | Windham High School | Ellington High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8Lowest |
9.8Lowest |
10.3Highest |
| 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.