Compare towns
Willington vs Suffield vs Ellington vs Putnam
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 youngest population (median age 37.5).
Suffield has the most homeowners (86.7%).
Ellington has the most kids (24% under 18).
Putnam has the most affordable homes ($269k median).
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 | Suffield | Ellington | Putnam |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,575Lowest |
15,702 |
16,455Highest |
9,292 |
| Median age | 37.5±7.2Lowest 9% below CT |
44.5±1.7Highest 8% above CT |
40.9±2.4 about the CT average |
43.7±3 6% above CT |
| Suffield and Putnam 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% |
16.2%±2 CT: 20.2% |
24%±3.2Highest CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.6 CT: 20.2% |
| Ellington and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 23.3%±6.4Highest CT: 18.5% |
18.4%±2.2Lowest CT: 18.5% |
18.8%±2.8 CT: 18.5% |
18.5%±3.1 CT: 18.5% |
| Willington and Ellington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 33.2% CT: 42.5% |
40.4% CT: 42.5% |
51.4%Highest CT: 42.5% |
20%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 14.6%±6.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.4%±1.2 CT: 7.1% |
6%±2.2 CT: 7.1% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest 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±$12k 5% below CT |
$119,472±$13k 25% above CT |
$129,913±$17kHighest 36% above CT |
$70,561±$7kLowest 26% below CT |
| Ellington and Suffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $305,800±$48k 17% below CT |
$407,500±$26kHighest 11% above CT |
$366,900±$17k about the CT average |
$269,200±$11kLowest 27% below CT |
| Suffield and Ellington 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 |
$1,424±$141 4% below CT |
$1,737±$212Highest 17% above CT |
$1,149±$44Lowest 23% below CT |
| Ellington and Suffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,419 18% below CT |
$6,456 about the CT average |
$6,751Highest about the CT average |
$3,860Lowest 42% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 70%±20.6Highest CT: 52.6% |
51%±4.6 CT: 52.6% |
45.5%±10.3 CT: 52.6% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Willington and Suffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 13%Highest CT: 10% |
4.6% CT: 10% |
2.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
11.5% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64% CT: 66.5% |
86.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
72.2% CT: 66.5% |
59.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 9 yrs newer than CT |
1979 12 yrs newer than CT |
1982Highest 15 yrs newer than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the CT average |
26 min 3% below CT |
31 minHighest 18% above CT |
25 minLowest 6% below CT |
| Work from home | 10.5%±4.7 CT: 16% |
18.4%±4.1Highest CT: 16% |
18.4%±3.9Highest CT: 16% |
9%±2.8Lowest CT: 16% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #104 of 149 in CT | #57 of 149 in CT | #46 of 149 in CT | #128 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Willington School District | Suffield School District | Ellington School District | Putnam School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Suffield High School | Ellington High School | Putnam High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.9Highest |
10.3 |
9.5Lowest |
| 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.