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The town green in Ellington, Connecticut

Living in Ellington, Connecticut

Ellington is a town in Tolland County, northeast of Hartford, incorporated in 1786. It was historically an agricultural community, and a panhandle of town extends east to Soapstone Mountain and Shenipsit State Forest. Crystal Lake, in the eastern part of town, is a longtime local swimming and boating spot.

Ellington CenterCrystal Lake

By James Allen, NMLS 1216446 · Updated

Photo: Jerry Dougherty, CC BY 2.5

Ellington at a glance

Ellington's villages and zip codes

All of Ellington uses ZIP code 06029.

Ellington villages and zip codes
AreaZip codeWhere it is
Ellington Center06029The town center along Main Street, where Town Hall, the library and downtown businesses are located.
Crystal Lake06029A lake community in the eastern section of town, built around Crystal Lake.

Ellington covers about 34.6 square miles and borders East Windsor, South Windsor, Vernon, Tolland, Willington, Stafford, Somers and Enfield. It was incorporated in 1786.

Things to do in Ellington, CT

Start with Nellie McKnight Museum and Kloter Farms, then 2 more below.

  1. Nellie McKnight Museum

    A local history museum in an 1812 house on Main Street, run by the Ellington Historical Society, with exhibits on the town's agricultural and community history.

    Seasonal

    70 Main Street, Ellington

    Plan a visit

  2. Kloter Farms

    A large furniture and outdoor-structure retailer on West Road, known locally for its sheds, gazebos and furniture showroom.

    Year-round

    216 West Road, Ellington

    Plan a visit

  3. Crystal Lake

    A lake in the eastern part of Ellington used for swimming and boating, with a town beach facility managed by Parks & Recreation.

    Seasonal

    Crystal Lake section, Ellington

  4. Soapstone Mountain

    A summit in Shenipsit State Forest's Ellington section with an observation tower and views over the surrounding hills, reached via the Shenipsit Trail.

    FreeSeasonal

    Shenipsit State Forest, Ellington

    Plan a visit

More worth a visit

  • Ellington Farmers MarketA seasonal farmers market with local vendors.

Around the calendar

  • Fall
    Farm DayAn annual community celebration of the town's agricultural heritage.
  • October
    Scarecrow ContestA town-run scarecrow decorating contest.
  • December
    WinterfestA winter holiday community event.
  • April
    Earth Day CelebrationAn annual environmental-awareness event.

A little history

Ellington's name comes in part from the Native word "Weexskashuck," meaning great marsh, referring to the low-lying land in the area before settlement.

The town was incorporated in May 1786, after Samuel Pinney became its first settler.

Parks, trails and outdoors in Ellington

Ellington's outdoor recreation runs from Crystal Lake in the east to the Shenipsit State Forest trail network on Soapstone Mountain.

  • Crystal LakeSwimming, boating and a town beach in the eastern part of Ellington.
  • Shenipsit State ForestA 7,000-plus-acre state forest spanning Ellington, Somers and Stafford, with the Shenipsit Trail and the Soapstone Mountain observation tower.More information
  • Shenipsit TrailA blue-blazed hiking trail passing over Soapstone Mountain in the Ellington section of Shenipsit State Forest.

Where to eat in Ellington: restaurants and coffee

3 places in Ellington to try, including mexican restaurant and italian market/pasta shop. No one paid to be listed.

Walkability and getting around Ellington

Ellington Center, around Main Street, has some walkable stretches near Town Hall, the library and downtown shops. The rest of town, including Crystal Lake and the rural panhandle toward Shenipsit State Forest, is spread out along roads and requires a car.

Ellington Center

55 Main Street, Ellington, CT 06029

Check any Ellington address

Drive times

  • Hartford, about 18 miles25–30 min
  • Bradley International Airport, about 14 miles20–25 min

Approximate, without traffic.

By bus or train

Ellington has no passenger rail station; the nearest Amtrak/CTrail service is in Hartford or Springfield, Massachusetts. Local bus service is limited; check CTtransit and CTrides for current routes and paratransit options serving the area.

Ellington property taxes and home prices

Ellington's 2026–27 mill rate is 25.42, which is $25.42 of tax for every $1,000 of assessed value. Connecticut taxes a home at 70% of its appraised value, so every $100,000 of value costs about $1,779 a year in taxes at 25.42 mills.

What homes in Ellington sell for

12 months endingSingle-familyCondo
Sep 2024$400,000111 sales$220,00025 sales
Sep 2025$455,000127 sales$237,50034 sales

October to September, state records. Text us for this month's sales.

Ellington's mill rate for 2026–27

25.42mills, fiscal year 2026–27

  • Town of Ellington25.42 mills
  • Motor vehicles25.42 mills
  • Next revaluationOctober 1, 2030

Ellington property tax calculator

$
Assessed value (70%)
–
Taxes a year
–
About this much a month
–

Estimate only; the assessor's appraisal sets the bill.

Add it to a full payment estimate

Using our mortgage calculator or affordability calculator? Enter about 1.78% for property tax. That's 25.42 mills on a 70% assessment.

How Ellington's mill rate has changed

Ellington town mill rate by fiscal year
Fiscal yearTown rate
2022–2332.50
2023–2434.30
2024–2536.00
2025–2637.10
2026–2725.42

Ellington's town rate went from 32.50 in 2022–23 to 25.42 in 2026–27. Next revaluation: October 1, 2030.

Look up a Ellington property

Buying a home in Ellington

What we check on a Ellington purchase: CHFA limits, the flood map, crumbling foundations and lake community.

CHFA

First-time buyer programs in Ellington

CHFA sets Ellington's income and price limits for Tolland County. We check them with you before you shop.

See CHFA's limits map
Flood maps

Check the flood zone first

Crystal Lake and the Willimantic River watershed in the eastern part of town put some low-lying land within FEMA flood zones. We check FEMA's map before you offer.

FEMA's flood map for Ellington
Crumbling foundations

Ask about foundation testing

Ellington is one of the Connecticut towns most affected by crumbling concrete foundations caused by pyrrhotite in aggregate used from the 1980s through 2015. We recommend a foundation inspection on any home with a poured-concrete foundation from that era, and the town Assessor's office has a page on the issue.

Ellington Assessor: crumbling foundations
Lake community

Check well and septic at Crystal Lake

Homes around Crystal Lake are often on private wells and septic systems rather than town water and sewer. We recommend a well and septic inspection as part of due diligence there.

All loans are subject to credit approval, underwriting, and property and program requirements. CHFA and USDA limits and eligibility are set by those agencies and change from time to time.

James Allen

Thinking about buying in Ellington?

Send us a Ellington address and we'll run the numbers, taxes included.

Call (860) 398-5268 Text us Email the team

Compare loan optionsOur process

Moving to Ellington: utilities, trash and town offices

Who to call in Ellington: Eversource for power.

Ellington transfer/recycling facility

21 Main Street, Ellington, CT 06029 Saturday 9:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.

Transfer station details

Town offices and contacts

Ellington Town Hall is at 55 Main Street, Ellington, CT 06029. Hours: Monday 8:00am–6:30pm; Tuesday–Thursday 8:00am–4:30pm; closed Friday. Main line: (860) 870-3100. Each link opens that office's page on the town's website.

Ellington, CT FAQ: taxes, prices and town services

The short answers. Call or text us for the long ones.

What is the mill rate in Ellington, CT?

Ellington's 2026–27 mill rate is 25.42, which is $25.42 of tax for every $1,000 of assessed value. The motor vehicle rate is 25.42 mills.

How much are property taxes on a $500,000 home in Ellington?

Connecticut assesses homes at 70% of appraised value, so a $500,000 home would be assessed at about $350,000. At 25.42 mills that's about $8,897 a year, or about $741 a month. The actual bill depends on the town assessor's appraisal, not the price you pay.

What is the median home price in Ellington, CT?

In the 12 months from October 2024 through September 2025, the median single-family sale in Ellington was $455,000 across 127 sales, compared with $400,000 the year before. The median condo sale was $237,500 across 34 sales.

When is Ellington's next revaluation?

Ellington's next revaluation takes effect October 1, 2030, on the state's schedule. The new assessments first show up on the tax bills due in July 2031.

What county is Ellington in?

Ellington is in Tolland County, in the Capitol Planning Region.

What is the zip code for Ellington?

06029, used townwide.

Is there train service in Ellington?

No. Ellington has no passenger rail station; the nearest Amtrak/CTrail service is in Hartford or Springfield, Massachusetts.

How far is Ellington from Hartford?

About 18 miles, roughly 25–30 minutes by car.

Are crumbling foundations a concern in Ellington?

Yes. Ellington is among the Connecticut towns most affected by pyrrhotite-related crumbling concrete foundations; the town Assessor's office has information and buyers should ask about foundation testing.

Where is Ellington Town Hall?

55 Main Street, Ellington, CT 06029.

Is there a transfer station in Ellington?

Yes, run by Public Works at 21 Main Street, with Saturday hours from 9 a.m. to noon.

Towns near Ellington

Neighbors of Ellington in Tolland County and nearby. All Tolland County towns.

Sources