Compare towns
Enfield vs Sterling vs Suffield vs Longmeadow
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 most affordable homes ($253k median).
Sterling has the oldest population (median age 51.5).
Longmeadow has the most people working from home (24.7%).
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 | Sterling | Suffield | Longmeadow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 41,090Highest |
8,183Lowest |
15,702 |
15,696 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +2.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +0.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.7±1.9Lowest 5% above U.S. |
51.5±1.8Highest 32% above U.S. |
44.5±1.7 14% above U.S. |
44.6±1.7 15% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 18.9%±1.7 U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
16.2%±2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
24.8%±3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 18%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.9%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.4%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
23.1%±2.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Longmeadow and Sterling 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% |
48.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
40.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
67.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Longmeadow and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $90,404±$5kLowest 12% above U.S. |
$129,063±$27k 60% above U.S. |
$119,472±$13k 48% above U.S. |
$149,601±$24kHighest 85% above U.S. |
| Longmeadow and Sterling 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. |
$498,800±$48kHighest 50% above U.S. |
$407,500±$26k 22% above U.S. |
$454,100±$20k 36% above U.S. |
| Sterling and Longmeadow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,574±$83 11% above U.S. |
$1,699±$161Highest 20% above U.S. |
$1,424±$141Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,682±$423 19% above U.S. |
| Sterling and Longmeadow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,360Lowest 72% above U.S. |
$6,757 117% above U.S. |
$6,456 107% above U.S. |
$9,236Highest 196% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.7%±6.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
46%±23.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
51%±4.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
58%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Longmeadow and Suffield 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% |
6% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1957Lowest 23 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 11% below U.S. |
34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
26 min 3% below U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.5%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.3%±6.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.4%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
24.7%±4.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Longmeadow 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 | #123 of 149 in CT | #135 of 282 in MA | #57 of 149 in CT | #51 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Capitol Region Education Council · Enfield School District | Wachusett | Suffield School District | — |
| High school in town | Enfield High School | None in town | Suffield High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
— | 10.9Lowest |
— |
| 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.