Compare towns
Willington vs Columbia vs Ellington
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Willington has the most affordable homes ($306k median).
Columbia has the oldest population (median age 51.3).
Ellington has the most kids (24% under 18).
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 | Willington | Columbia | Ellington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,575 |
5,300Lowest |
16,455Highest |
| Median age | 37.5±7.2Lowest 9% below CT |
51.3±10.3Highest 25% above CT |
40.9±2.4 about the CT average |
| Columbia and Ellington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 12.8%±4.9Lowest CT: 20.2% |
13.7%±4.3 CT: 20.2% |
24%±3.2Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Age 65+ | 23.3%±6.4 CT: 18.5% |
24.9%±5.4Highest CT: 18.5% |
18.8%±2.8Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Columbia and Willington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 33.2%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
34.6% CT: 42.5% |
51.4%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 14.6%±6.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.8%±2.5Lowest CT: 7.1% |
6%±2.2 CT: 7.1% |
| Willington and Ellington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $91,114±$12kLowest 5% below CT |
$127,000±$30k 33% above CT |
$129,913±$17kHighest 36% above CT |
| Ellington and Columbia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $305,800±$48kLowest 17% below CT |
$361,500±$16k about the CT average |
$366,900±$17kHighest about the CT average |
| Ellington and Columbia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,357±$116 9% below CT |
$966±$304Lowest 35% below CT |
$1,737±$212Highest 17% above CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,419 18% below CT |
$5,228Lowest 21% below CT |
$6,751Highest about the CT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 70%±20.6Highest CT: 52.6% |
17.6%±16.2Lowest CT: 52.6% |
45.5%±10.3 CT: 52.6% |
| Willington and Ellington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 13%Highest CT: 10% |
6.1% CT: 10% |
2.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
83.3%Highest CT: 66.5% |
72.2% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest 9 yrs newer than CT |
1984Highest 17 yrs newer than CT |
1982 15 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest about the CT average |
32 minHighest 21% above CT |
31 min 18% above CT |
| Work from home | 10.5%±4.7Lowest CT: 16% |
21.6%±6Highest CT: 16% |
18.4%±3.9 CT: 16% |
| Columbia and Ellington 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 | #104 of 149 in CT | #114 of 149 in CT | #46 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Willington School District | Columbia School District | Ellington School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Ellington High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.3 |
| 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.