Compare towns
Enfield vs Melrose vs Suffield vs Naugatuck
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Enfield has the shortest commute (24 min average).
Melrose has the most expensive homes ($823k median).
Suffield has the most homeowners (86.7%).
Naugatuck has the youngest population (median age 39.8).
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 | Enfield | Melrose | Suffield | Naugatuck |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 41,090Highest |
29,650 |
15,702Lowest |
31,800 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +10.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -1.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.7±1.9 5% above U.S. |
43.6±1.1 12% above U.S. |
44.5±1.7Highest 14% above U.S. |
39.8±2.4Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Suffield and Melrose are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.9%±1.7 U.S.: 22% |
20.2%±2.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.2%±2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.9%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Melrose and Naugatuck are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18%±1.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±2.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.4%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.6%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Melrose and Suffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
62%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
32.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.8%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $90,404±$5kLowest 12% above U.S. |
$133,953±$14kHighest 66% above U.S. |
$119,472±$13k 48% above U.S. |
$96,324±$9k 19% above U.S. |
| Melrose and Suffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $252,900±$7kLowest 24% below U.S. |
$822,900±$20kHighest 147% above U.S. |
$407,500±$26k 22% above U.S. |
$259,100±$13k 22% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,574±$83 11% above U.S. |
$1,970±$149Highest 39% above U.S. |
$1,424±$141 about the U.S. average |
$1,369±$58Lowest 3% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,360Lowest 72% above U.S. |
$7,578Highest 143% above U.S. |
$6,456 107% above U.S. |
$6,362 104% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.7%±6.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.3%±8.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
51%±4.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.2%±9.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Suffield and Melrose are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
67.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
67.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 11% below U.S. |
35 minHighest 31% above U.S. |
26 min 3% below U.S. |
33 min 26% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.5%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
29.6%±2.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.4%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
15%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #123 of 149 in CT | #62 of 282 in MA | #57 of 149 in CT | #116 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Capitol Region Education Council · Enfield School District | Melrose | Suffield School District | Naugatuck School District |
| High school in town | Enfield High School | Melrose High | Suffield High School | Naugatuck High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5 |
12.8 |
10.9Lowest |
15.2Highest |
| 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.