Compare towns
Vernon vs Plainville vs Ellington
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Vernon has the most renters (46.8% rent).
Plainville has the shortest commute (21 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 | Vernon | Plainville | Ellington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 30,577Highest |
17,551 |
16,455Lowest |
| Median age | 39.4±2.5Lowest 4% below CT |
44.3±1.5Highest 8% above CT |
40.9±2.4 about the CT average |
| Plainville and Ellington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±2 CT: 20.2% |
15.6%±2.3Lowest CT: 20.2% |
24%±3.2Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Age 65+ | 18.6%±1.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
20.1%±2.8Highest CT: 18.5% |
18.8%±2.8 CT: 18.5% |
| Plainville and Ellington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 38% CT: 42.5% |
30%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
51.4%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.8%±1.2Highest CT: 7.1% |
6.2%±1.6 CT: 7.1% |
6%±2.2Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Vernon and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $85,356±$6k 11% below CT |
$84,343±$7kLowest 12% below CT |
$129,913±$17kHighest 36% above CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $275,500±$11k 25% below CT |
$254,000±$14kLowest 31% below CT |
$366,900±$17kHighest about the CT average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,425±$77 4% below CT |
$1,126±$147Lowest 24% below CT |
$1,737±$212Highest 17% above CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,804 13% below CT |
$4,798Lowest 28% below CT |
$6,751Highest about the CT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.3%±5.7Lowest CT: 52.6% |
40.3%±12.4 CT: 52.6% |
45.5%±10.3Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Ellington and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 13.4%Highest CT: 10% |
6.5% CT: 10% |
2.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 53.2%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
67.7% CT: 66.5% |
72.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Lowest 1 yr newer than CT |
1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
1982Highest 15 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the CT average |
21 minLowest 20% below CT |
31 minHighest 18% above CT |
| Work from home | 13.4%±2.5 CT: 16% |
10.7%±2Lowest CT: 16% |
18.4%±3.9Highest CT: 16% |
| Ellington and Vernon 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 | #107 of 149 in CT | #89 of 149 in CT | #46 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Vernon School District | Judicial Centers · Plainville School District | Ellington School District |
| High school in town | Rockville High School | Plainville High School | Ellington High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1Highest |
11.4 |
10.3Lowest |
| 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.