Compare towns
Devens vs Suffield vs Russell vs Chester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Devens has the highest household income ($189k).
Suffield has the shortest commute (26 min average).
Chester has the most kids (24.1% under 18).
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 | Devens | Suffield | Russell | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,723 |
15,702Highest |
1,197Lowest |
1,240 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -7.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-8.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.6±4.3Highest 25% above U.S. |
44.5±1.7Lowest 14% above U.S. |
47.7±7.6 23% above U.S. |
45.9±3.7 18% above U.S. |
| Devens and Russell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 5.5%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.2%±2 U.S.: 22% |
10.4%±4 U.S.: 22% |
24.1%±8.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Chester and Suffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 14%±5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.4%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±2.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.5%±1.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Russell and Suffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
27.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±4.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±4.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Devens and Suffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $189,250±$63kHighest 134% above U.S. |
$119,472±$13k 48% above U.S. |
$108,750±$24k 35% above U.S. |
$89,390±$6kLowest 11% above U.S. |
| Devens and Suffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $556,800±$96kHighest 67% above U.S. |
$407,500±$26k 22% above U.S. |
$303,300±$32k 9% below U.S. |
$281,900±$14kLowest 15% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,500±$539Highest 6% above U.S. |
$1,424±$141 about the U.S. average |
$1,013±$330Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,104±$71 22% below U.S. |
| Devens and Suffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,556 78% above U.S. |
$6,456Highest 107% above U.S. |
$5,104 64% above U.S. |
$4,522Lowest 45% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±64.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
51%±4.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
25.6%±20.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.1%±22.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Devens and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 25.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
1.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1950Lowest 30 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1951 29 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% above U.S. |
26 minLowest 3% below U.S. |
30 min 14% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 28.5%±11.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.4%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.2%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
7%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Devens 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 | — | #57 of 149 in CT | — | — |
| School district | — | Suffield School District | — | Gateway |
| High school in town | — | Suffield High School | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 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.