Compare towns
Deep River vs Suffield vs Middlefield vs Essex
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Deep River has the most renters (30.8% rent).
Suffield has the highest household income ($119k).
Middlefield has the oldest housing (typical home built 1961).
Essex has the most expensive homes ($552k 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.
| Measure | Deep River | Suffield | Middlefield | Essex |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,458 |
15,702Highest |
4,243Lowest |
6,794 |
| Median age | 46.2±5.6 12% above CT |
44.5±1.7Lowest 8% above CT |
51.6±1.9 26% above CT |
52.4±3.6Highest 27% above CT |
| Essex and Middlefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.6%±4.7Highest CT: 20.2% |
16.2%±2 CT: 20.2% |
13.9%±4.1Lowest CT: 20.2% |
16.2%±3.3 CT: 20.2% |
| Deep River and Suffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.1%±4.1 CT: 18.5% |
18.4%±2.2Lowest CT: 18.5% |
25.5%±7.2 CT: 18.5% |
26.4%±3.8Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Essex and Middlefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.6% CT: 42.5% |
40.4%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
41.5% CT: 42.5% |
54.9%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±2.2Lowest CT: 7.1% |
4.4%±1.2 CT: 7.1% |
5.7%±2.4 CT: 7.1% |
8.7%±3.7Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Essex and Middlefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $90,253±$19kLowest 6% below CT |
$119,472±$13kHighest 25% above CT |
$99,837±$20k 4% above CT |
$104,395±$7k 9% above CT |
| Suffield and Essex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $362,200±$26kLowest about the CT average |
$407,500±$26k 11% above CT |
$376,000±$27k about the CT average |
$552,000±$53kHighest 50% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,221±$185Lowest 18% below CT |
$1,424±$141 4% below CT |
$3,501Highest 135% above CT |
$1,623±$326 9% above CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,092 8% below CT |
$6,456 about the CT average |
$6,853Highest 3% above CT |
$5,678Lowest 15% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58.2%±22.9 CT: 52.6% |
51%±4.6 CT: 52.6% |
85.4%±52.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
38.5%±9.7Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Middlefield and Deep River are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.2%Highest CT: 10% |
4.6% CT: 10% |
8.1% CT: 10% |
3.2%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
86.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
86.5% CT: 66.5% |
78.1% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 7 yrs newer than CT |
1979Highest 12 yrs newer than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 9% below CT |
26 min 3% below CT |
25 min 6% below CT |
27 minHighest 3% above CT |
| Work from home | 15.2%±5.6 CT: 16% |
18.4%±4.1 CT: 16% |
10.9%±4.1Lowest CT: 16% |
19.4%±4.6Highest CT: 16% |
| Essex 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 | #70 of 149 in CT | #57 of 149 in CT | #65 of 149 in CT | #33 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Deep River School District · Regional School District 04 | Suffield School District | Regional School District 13 | Essex School District |
| High school in town | Valley Regional High School | Suffield High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.3Lowest |
10.9Highest |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
CT 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.