Compare towns
Chaplin vs Southwick vs Suffield vs Ashford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Chaplin has the most affordable homes ($255k median).
Southwick has the oldest population (median age 46.8).
Suffield has the shortest commute (26 min average).
Ashford has the youngest population (median age 37.9).
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 | Chaplin | Southwick | Suffield | Ashford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,070Lowest |
9,217 |
15,702Highest |
4,226 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 43.7±4.8 12% above U.S. |
46.8±1.8Highest 20% above U.S. |
44.5±1.7 14% above U.S. |
37.9±10.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Southwick and Suffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.7%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±3 U.S.: 22% |
16.2%±2 U.S.: 22% |
18.5%±5.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Ashford and Southwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.9%±4.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
21%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.4%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.9%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Southwick and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 25.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
40.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 10.1%±6.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Chaplin and Southwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $97,846±$14kLowest 21% above U.S. |
$120,462±$16k 49% above U.S. |
$119,472±$13k 48% above U.S. |
$121,926±$23kHighest 51% above U.S. |
| Ashford and Southwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $255,200±$24kLowest 23% below U.S. |
$397,500±$27k 19% above U.S. |
$407,500±$26kHighest 22% above U.S. |
$334,800±$18k about the U.S. average |
| Suffield and Southwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,473±$275Highest 4% above U.S. |
$1,332±$72 6% below U.S. |
$1,424±$141 about the U.S. average |
$1,246±$208Lowest 12% below U.S. |
| Chaplin and Suffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,524Lowest 45% above U.S. |
$5,331 71% above U.S. |
$6,456 107% above U.S. |
$6,982Highest 124% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.6%±27.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
51%±10Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
51%±4.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
47%±26 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 5.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
76.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 23% above U.S. |
29 min 8% above U.S. |
26 minLowest 3% below U.S. |
34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.1%±10 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.2%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.4%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.3%±5.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ashford 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 | — | #211 of 282 in MA | #57 of 149 in CT | #90 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 | Southwick-Tolland-Granville Regional School District | Suffield School District | Ashford School District |
| High school in town | Parish Hill High School | Southwick Regional School | Suffield High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.5Lowest |
11.0Highest |
10.9 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.