Compare towns
Vernon vs Willimantic vs Killingly vs Ellington
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Willimantic has the most renters (65.1% rent).
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 | Willimantic | Killingly | Ellington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 30,577Highest |
18,096 |
17,867 |
16,455Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +2.3% CT: +0.9% |
— | — |
| Median age | 39.4±2.5 4% below CT |
31.3±2.7Lowest 24% below CT |
39.5±3 4% below CT |
40.9±2.4Highest about the CT average |
| Ellington and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±2Lowest CT: 20.2% |
20.6%±2.5 CT: 20.2% |
19.8%±2.3 CT: 20.2% |
24%±3.2Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Ellington and Willimantic are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.6%±1.7 CT: 18.5% |
11%±1.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
19.7%±2.4Highest CT: 18.5% |
18.8%±2.8 CT: 18.5% |
| Killingly 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% |
24.2% CT: 42.5% |
22.9%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
51.4%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.8%±1.2 CT: 7.1% |
19.1%±2.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.9Lowest CT: 7.1% |
6%±2.2 CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $85,356±$6k 11% below CT |
$45,962±$7kLowest 52% below CT |
$84,350±$8k 12% below CT |
$129,913±$17kHighest 36% above CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $275,500±$11k 25% below CT |
$190,900±$17kLowest 48% below CT |
$288,600±$15k 21% below CT |
$366,900±$17kHighest about the CT average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,425±$77 4% below CT |
$1,063±$68 29% below CT |
$1,044±$141Lowest 30% below CT |
$1,737±$212Highest 17% above CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,804 13% below CT |
$4,678 30% below CT |
$3,922Lowest 41% below CT |
$6,751Highest about the CT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.3%±5.7Lowest CT: 52.6% |
55.9%±8.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
42.8%±10.9 CT: 52.6% |
45.5%±10.3 CT: 52.6% |
| Willimantic and Ellington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 13.4% CT: 10% |
23.4%Highest CT: 10% |
11.4% CT: 10% |
2.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 53.2% CT: 66.5% |
34.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
71.6% CT: 66.5% |
72.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 1 yr newer than CT |
1953Lowest 14 yrs older than CT |
1968 1 yr newer than CT |
1982Highest 15 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the CT average |
23 minLowest 12% below CT |
28 min 5% above CT |
31 minHighest 18% above CT |
| Work from home | 13.4%±2.5 CT: 16% |
6.2%±2Lowest CT: 16% |
11.1%±2.3 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 | — | #136 of 149 in CT | #46 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Vernon School District | — | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Ellington School District |
| High school in town | Rockville High School | — | Killingly High School | Ellington High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1Highest |
— | 11.1 |
10.3Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.