Compare towns
Stafford vs Windsor Locks 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).
Windsor Locks has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Ellington has the highest household income ($130k).
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 | Windsor Locks | Ellington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,511Lowest |
12,579 |
16,455Highest |
| Median age | 46.7±4.8Highest 14% above CT |
41.4±2.6 about the CT average |
40.9±2.4Lowest about the CT average |
| Stafford and Windsor Locks 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% |
18.6%±3.4Lowest 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% |
18.2%±2.7Lowest 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% |
28.6% CT: 42.5% |
51.4%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.3Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.9%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
6%±2.2Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Ellington and Windsor Locks 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 |
$81,205±$13kLowest 15% below CT |
$129,913±$17kHighest 36% above CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $263,800±$22k 28% below CT |
$258,800±$14kLowest 29% below CT |
$366,900±$17kHighest about the CT average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,086±$85Lowest 27% below CT |
$1,394±$187 6% below CT |
$1,737±$212Highest 17% above CT |
| Ellington and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,131 23% below CT |
$3,688Lowest 44% below CT |
$6,751Highest about the CT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.5%±12.2Lowest CT: 52.6% |
58.2%±16.8Highest CT: 52.6% |
45.5%±10.3 CT: 52.6% |
| Windsor Locks 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% |
10.9%Highest CT: 10% |
2.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.5%Highest CT: 66.5% |
77.1% CT: 66.5% |
72.2%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 3 yrs newer than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
1982Highest 15 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the CT average |
22 minLowest 17% below CT |
31 minHighest 18% above CT |
| Work from home | 11%±3.5Lowest CT: 16% |
17.7%±3.7 CT: 16% |
18.4%±3.9Highest CT: 16% |
| Ellington and Windsor Locks 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 | #109 of 149 in CT | #46 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Stafford School District | Windsor Locks School District | Ellington School District |
| High school in town | Stafford High School | Windsor Locks High School | Ellington High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8 |
8.9Lowest |
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.