Compare towns
East Hampton vs Reading vs Suffield vs Colchester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
East Hampton has the most affordable homes ($349k median).
Reading has the most expensive homes ($809k median).
Suffield has the shortest commute (26 min average).
Colchester has the most renters (23.5% rent).
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 | East Hampton | Reading | Suffield | Colchester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 12,925Lowest |
25,612Highest |
15,702 |
15,648 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 43.6±3.7 12% above U.S. |
43.7±2.3 12% above U.S. |
44.5±1.7Highest 14% above U.S. |
43.5±3.8Lowest 12% above U.S. |
| Suffield and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.4%±3 U.S.: 22% |
22.8%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.2%±2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.7%±2.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Reading and East Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.8%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.4%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.3%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| East Hampton and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
66.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
49.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| East Hampton and Colchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $124,577±$11k 54% above U.S. |
$165,912±$13kHighest 106% above U.S. |
$119,472±$13kLowest 48% above U.S. |
$122,390±$14k 52% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $349,000±$14kLowest 5% above U.S. |
$809,000±$22kHighest 143% above U.S. |
$407,500±$26k 22% above U.S. |
$366,800±$16k 10% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,393±$150Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,991±$273Highest 41% above U.S. |
$1,424±$141 about the U.S. average |
$1,474±$153 4% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,681 114% above U.S. |
$9,320Highest 199% above U.S. |
$6,456 107% above U.S. |
$6,212Lowest 99% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.7%±16.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
27.8%±9.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
51%±4.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.4%±10.4 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 | 4% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
76.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1960Lowest 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 12% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
26 minLowest 3% below U.S. |
30 min 15% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.7%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
30.2%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.4%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.4%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #75 of 149 in CT | #50 of 282 in MA | #57 of 149 in CT | #64 of 149 in CT |
| School district | East Hampton School District | Reading | Suffield School District | Colchester School District |
| High school in town | East Hampton High School | Reading Memorial High | Suffield High School | Bacon Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.3 |
12.1Highest |
10.9 |
9.8Lowest |
| 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.