What stands out worked out from the figures below

Tolland has the shortest commute (32 min average).

Crystal Lake has the oldest population (median age 48.9).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Tolland	Crystal Lake
People
Population	14,606Highest	2,024Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	+10.6% CT: +0.9%
Median age	41.4±2.5Lowest about the CT average	48.9±7.6Highest 19% above CT
	Crystal Lake and Tolland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	22.6%±3Lowest CT: 20.2%	24.5%±7.5Highest CT: 20.2%
	Crystal Lake and Tolland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	15.3%±2.1Lowest CT: 18.5%	23.3%±5.1Highest CT: 18.5%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	56.2%Highest CT: 42.5%	45.9%Lowest CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	7.4%±2.3Highest CT: 7.1%	6.3%±3.7Lowest CT: 7.1%
	Tolland and Crystal Lake are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$133,264±$16kLowest 39% above CT	$143,882±$29kHighest 50% above CT
	Crystal Lake and Tolland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$365,500±$21kHighest about the CT average	$361,800±$35kLowest about the CT average
	Tolland and Crystal Lake are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,680±$119 13% above CT	—
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,403Highest 11% above CT	$7,146Lowest 8% above CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	73.5%±62.4Highest CT: 52.6%	0%±93.3Lowest CT: 52.6%
	Tolland and Crystal Lake are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.3%Highest CT: 10%	1.7%Lowest CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	90.7%Lowest CT: 66.5%	91.4%Highest CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1981Highest 14 yrs newer than CT	1977Lowest 10 yrs newer than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	32 minLowest 20% above CT	39 minHighest 47% above CT
Work from home	20.6%±3.6Highest CT: 16%	17.5%±10Lowest CT: 16%
	Tolland 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	#60 of 149 in CT	—
School district	Tolland School District	—
High school in town	Tolland High School	—
Students per teacherat that high school	12.4	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.