Compare towns
East Hampton vs Sharon vs Suffield vs Colchester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
East Hampton has the most affordable homes ($349k median).
Sharon has the most expensive homes ($591k median).
Suffield has the shortest commute (26 min average).
Colchester has the youngest population (median age 43.5).
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 | Sharon | Suffield | Colchester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 12,925 |
2,723Lowest |
15,702Highest |
15,648 |
| Median age | 43.6±3.7 6% above CT |
59.5±6Highest 45% above CT |
44.5±1.7 8% above CT |
43.5±3.8Lowest 6% above CT |
| Kids under 18 | 21.4%±3Highest CT: 20.2% |
7.2%±3.2Lowest CT: 20.2% |
16.2%±2 CT: 20.2% |
20.7%±2.8 CT: 20.2% |
| East Hampton and Colchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.8%±2.8 CT: 18.5% |
37.9%±9.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
18.4%±2.2Lowest CT: 18.5% |
20.3%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
56.8%Highest CT: 42.5% |
40.4% CT: 42.5% |
49.7% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.5%±2.5Lowest CT: 7.1% |
4.4%±1.2 CT: 7.1% |
4.6%±1.3 CT: 7.1% |
| 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±$11kHighest 30% above CT |
$100,518±$15kLowest 5% above CT |
$119,472±$13k 25% above CT |
$122,390±$14k 28% above CT |
| East Hampton and Colchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $349,000±$14kLowest 5% below CT |
$590,700±$156kHighest 61% above CT |
$407,500±$26k 11% above CT |
$366,800±$16k about the CT average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,393±$150Lowest 6% below CT |
$1,750±$1kHighest 18% above CT |
$1,424±$141 4% below CT |
$1,474±$153 about the CT average |
| Sharon and Colchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,681Highest about the CT average |
$4,484Lowest 33% below CT |
$6,456 about the CT average |
$6,212 6% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.7%±16.4 CT: 52.6% |
64%±16.2Highest CT: 52.6% |
51%±4.6 CT: 52.6% |
44.4%±10.4Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Sharon and Suffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4% CT: 10% |
10.8%Highest CT: 10% |
4.6% CT: 10% |
3.9%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.5% CT: 66.5% |
72.5%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
86.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
76.5% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 10 yrs newer than CT |
1954Lowest 13 yrs older than CT |
1979 12 yrs newer than CT |
1984Highest 17 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 11% above CT |
30 min 13% above CT |
26 minLowest 3% below CT |
30 minHighest 14% above CT |
| Work from home | 12.7%±2.4Lowest CT: 16% |
18.7%±6.8Highest CT: 16% |
18.4%±4.1 CT: 16% |
18.4%±3.8 CT: 16% |
| Sharon 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 | #75 of 149 in CT | — | #57 of 149 in CT | #64 of 149 in CT |
| School district | East Hampton School District | Sharon School District | Suffield School District | Colchester School District |
| High school in town | East Hampton High School | None in town | Suffield High School | Bacon Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.3Highest |
— | 10.9 |
9.8Lowest |
| 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.