What stands out worked out from the figures below

Chelmsford has the most expensive homes ($594k median).

Suffield has the most affordable homes ($408k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Chelmsford	Suffield
People
Population	36,446Highest	15,702Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+7.7% U.S.: +7.4%	—
Median age	41.6±1.9Lowest 7% above U.S.	44.5±1.7Highest 14% above U.S.
	Suffield and Chelmsford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21.6%±1.8Highest U.S.: 22%	16.2%±2Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	18.1%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	18.4%±2.2Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Suffield and Chelmsford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	52.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	40.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.3%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4%	4.4%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Chelmsford and Suffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$140,629±$8kHighest 74% above U.S.	$119,472±$13kLowest 48% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$593,700±$17kHighest 78% above U.S.	$407,500±$26kLowest 22% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,062±$151Highest 46% above U.S.	$1,424±$141Lowest about the U.S. average
Property taxmedian, yearly	$8,047Highest 158% above U.S.	$6,456Lowest 107% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	51.7%±10Highest U.S.: 51.1%	51%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Chelmsford and Suffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	4.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	82.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S.	1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minHighest 6% above U.S.	26 minLowest 3% below U.S.
Work from home	22.8%±2.3Highest U.S.: 15.1%	18.4%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Chelmsford 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	#79 of 282 in MA	#57 of 149 in CT
School district	Chelmsford	Suffield School District
High school in town	Chelmsford High	Suffield High School
Students per teacherat that high school	14.0Highest	10.9Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.