Compare towns

Ayer vs East Hampton vs Suffield

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Ayer has the most renters (41.9% rent).
East Hampton has the most affordable homes ($349k median).
Suffield has the shortest commute (26 min average).

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.

MeasureAyerEast HamptonSuffield
People
Population
3,098Lowest
12,925
15,702Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+4.1%
U.S.: +7.4%
— —
Median age
42.1±6.9Lowest
8% above U.S.
43.6±3.7
12% above U.S.
44.5±1.7Highest
14% above U.S.
Suffield and East Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
20.8%±5.3
U.S.: 22%
21.4%±3Highest
U.S.: 22%
16.2%±2Lowest
U.S.: 22%
East Hampton and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
15.3%±5.5Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
20.8%±2.8Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
18.4%±2.2
U.S.: 17.2%
East Hampton and Suffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
37.7%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
39%
U.S.: 35.7%
40.4%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.2%±3Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.2%±1.8Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.4%±1.2
U.S.: 6.4%
East Hampton and Suffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$74,878±$17kLowest
7% below U.S.
$124,577±$11kHighest
54% above U.S.
$119,472±$13k
48% above U.S.
East Hampton and Suffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$444,600±$43kHighest
34% above U.S.
$349,000±$14kLowest
5% above U.S.
$407,500±$26k
22% above U.S.
Ayer and Suffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,240±$169Lowest
12% below U.S.
$1,393±$150
about the U.S. average
$1,424±$141Highest
about the U.S. average
Suffield and East Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,911Lowest
57% above U.S.
$6,681Highest
114% above U.S.
$6,456
107% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
46.9%±21.9Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
48.7%±16.4
U.S.: 51.1%
51%±4.6Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Suffield and East Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
6.9%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
4.6%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
58.1%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
85.5%
U.S.: 65.2%
86.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1952Lowest
28 yrs older than U.S.
1977
3 yrs older than U.S.
1979Highest
1 yr older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
29 min
8% above U.S.
30 minHighest
12% above U.S.
26 minLowest
3% below U.S.
Work from home
19.8%±6.1Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
12.7%±2.4Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
18.4%±4.1
U.S.: 15.1%
Ayer and Suffield 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 #113 of 282 in MA #75 of 149 in CT #57 of 149 in CT
School district — East Hampton School District Suffield School District
High school in town — East Hampton High School Suffield High School
Students per teacherat that high school —
11.3Highest
10.9Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet None yet None yet

U.S. 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.