Living in Stafford, CT
Stafford is a 58-square-mile Tolland County town in northeastern Connecticut, with Stafford Springs at the junction of Routes 190 and 32 and Stafford Motor Speedway.
Stafford at a glance
- Median sale price
- $336,000+8.4% vs last year 173 sales, last 12 months
- Property tax rate
- 25.59 mills town-wide, FY2027
- Estimated yearly tax
- ~$6,000 median-priced home
- Population
- 11,692 2024 Census estimate
- Land area
- 58.0 sq mi 201 per sq mi
What it is like in Stafford
Stafford is in Tolland County and borders Willington, Somers, Union and Ellington. It covers 58.04 square miles of land, which makes it one of the largest towns in the state by area, and had 11,692 residents in the facts used for this guide. The northern third of town is largely rural and forested.
The town was settled in 1719 and moved from Hartford County to Tolland County when that county was formed in 1785. Water power from tributaries of the Willimantic River drove its mills, and during the Civil War local factories made cannonballs and other supplies for Union forces. A railroad linked the town to New England markets by the mid-1800s.
Stafford Springs is the downtown village. The town also includes Crystal Lake, Ellithorpe, Hydeville, Orcuttsville, Staffordville, Stafford Hollow, Village Hill and West Stafford. Burley Hill, at 1,315 feet, is the highest point.
Town parks and open spaces in the facts file include Haymarket Square, Heritage Park, Olympic Park, Mill Pond Park, Town Hall Park, Furnace Hollow Square Park, the Staffordville Recreation Area, Dennis Pond Preserve and the West Stafford Conservation Area. Staffordville Lake has a small public beach, and there are campgrounds at Mineral Springs, Roaring Brook and Sun Valley.
Stafford Motor Speedway is a half-mile paved oval at 55 West Street that began as a horse track. Main Street in Stafford Springs has Off The Rails Brewing Co., Stafford Cidery, LuAnn's Bakery & Cafe and Stafford House of Pizza. The Stafford Historical Society is at 5 Spring Street, and the Iron Spring, an original mineral spring, is in a wellhouse next to it.
Getting around from Stafford
| Drive to | Time | Miles |
|---|---|---|
| Hartford | 45 min | 32 |
| New Haven | 87 min | 67 |
| Stamford | 140 min | 106 |
| New York City (Midtown) | 193 min | 141 |
| Boston | 106 min | 79 |
| Providence | 94 min | 59 |
| Bradley Airport (BDL) | 52 min | 24 |
Rail
No passenger rail station within 8 miles.
Highways and routes
Stafford Springs sits where Routes 190 and 32 meet, and Interstate 84 runs nearby. No rail stations are listed for the town in the facts file.
Hartford is 32 miles and 45 minutes by car, and Bradley Airport is 24 miles and 52 minutes away. Boston is 79 miles and 106 minutes, Providence 59 miles and 94 minutes, New Haven 67 miles and 87 minutes, and Midtown New York City 141 miles and 193 minutes.
Schools in Stafford
4 public schools in Stafford School District. Which one serves an address depends on the district, so confirm with them.
Elementary 2
- Stafford
- West Stafford
Middle 1
- Stafford
High school 1
- Stafford High School
Grades, number of students. Hover a school for its address.
For report cards, enrollment trends and spending per student, look up Stafford School District on the state's EdSight site.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Common Core of Data. We do not rate or rank schools.
Eat, drink and explore in Stafford
Open Stafford in Google Maps →Eat and drink 5
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Restaurant and bar on Route 190 serving American and Italian grill dishes, open Wednesday through Sunday.
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Bakery and cafe on Main Street, one of several locations of an Ellington-based bakery, open Monday through Saturday.
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Small brewery and taproom on Main Street, open Friday through Sunday, that began brewing in 2021.
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Cidery and tasting room on Main Street making hard cider, also pouring Connecticut beer and wine; guests may bring food.
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Pizzeria on Main Street with grinders, wraps, burgers, Greek dishes, pasta and seafood.
Things to do and see 1
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Half-mile paved oval for stock car racing, on the site of a former horse track.
Parks, preserves and trails 43
Show 29 more parks and conservation parcels
Parks and open space © OpenStreetMap contributors. Places to eat and visit last checked October 2026. These are not paid placements; they are simply our selection. Hours and menus change, so check before you go.
Stafford housing market
Over the last 12 months, 173 homes sold in Stafford with a median sale price of $336,000 and a median of 10 days on market. There are 34 homes for sale right now.
Homes sold for a median of $218 per square foot. The typical home sold for 102% of its list price, and the median sale price is up 8.4% from the year before. At the current pace of sales, the homes for sale would last about 2.4 months.
Stafford's town-wide property tax rate is 25.59 mills (FY2027). Connecticut assesses homes at 70% of market value, so a median-priced home pays roughly $6,000 a year. Special taxing districts, such as fire districts, can add to this, and a home's actual assessment may differ from its sale price.
Source: SmartMLS, residential sales (single-family, condo and multi-family); mill rates: Connecticut Office of Policy and Management. Updated November 10, 2026.
Homes for sale in Stafford
See all 34 →
Know before you move
Official and independent sources worth bookmarking if you are considering Stafford.
Questions about Stafford
What is the median home price in Stafford, CT?
The median sale price in Stafford is $336,000, based on 173 home sales in the last 12 months (SmartMLS). Updated November 10, 2026.
What is the property tax rate in Stafford, CT?
Stafford's town-wide property tax rate is 25.59 mills (fiscal year 2027). Connecticut assesses homes at 70% of market value, so a median-priced home pays roughly $6,000 a year. Special taxing districts can add to this.
How far is Stafford, CT from Hartford?
Stafford is about 32 miles and a 45-minute drive from downtown Hartford, measured from the town center without traffic.
How far is Stafford, CT from New York City?
Stafford is about 141 miles from Midtown Manhattan, roughly a 193-minute drive without traffic.
What is the population of Stafford, CT?
Stafford has about 11,692 residents (U.S. Census Bureau estimate, 2024) and covers 58.0 square miles.
How many public schools are in Stafford, CT?
Stafford has 4 public schools in Stafford School District. Which school serves an address depends on the district's boundaries, so confirm with the district.
How many homes are for sale in Stafford, CT?
There are 34 homes for sale in Stafford right now, per SmartMLS, as of November 10, 2026.
How far is Stafford from Hartford and Bradley Airport?
Hartford is 32 miles and about 45 minutes by car. Bradley Airport is 24 miles and about 52 minutes away.
Which villages make up Stafford?
Stafford Springs is the downtown village. Others are Crystal Lake, Ellithorpe, Hydeville, Orcuttsville, Staffordville, Stafford Hollow, Village Hill and West Stafford.
What is Stafford Motor Speedway?
It is a half-mile paved oval at 55 West Street in Stafford Springs. The site began as a horse-racing track and moved to auto racing after World War II.
Where are the campgrounds in Stafford?
The facts file lists Mineral Springs Campground, Roaring Brook Campground, Stafford Wood West Campground and the Sun Valley Beach Club.
Which towns border Stafford?
Willington, Somers, Union and Ellington.
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