Compare towns
Halifax vs Southwick vs Suffield vs Plympton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Halifax has the youngest population (median age 41.9).
Southwick has the most renters (16.6% rent).
Suffield has the shortest commute (26 min average).
Plympton has the most expensive homes ($518k median).
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 | Halifax | Southwick | Suffield | Plympton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,748 |
9,217 |
15,702Highest |
2,935Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +3.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.9±4.7Lowest 8% above U.S. |
46.8±1.8Highest 20% above U.S. |
44.5±1.7 14% above U.S. |
46.4±4.2 19% above U.S. |
| Southwick and Plympton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.2%±5.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±3 U.S.: 22% |
16.2%±2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.6%±5 U.S.: 22% |
| Halifax and Plympton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.8%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
21%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.4%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.7%±5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Plympton and Southwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
35.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
38.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.2%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Halifax and Southwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $118,556±$11kLowest 47% above U.S. |
$120,462±$16k 49% above U.S. |
$119,472±$13k 48% above U.S. |
$126,736±$20kHighest 57% above U.S. |
| Plympton and Southwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $481,500±$51k 45% above U.S. |
$397,500±$27kLowest 19% above U.S. |
$407,500±$26k 22% above U.S. |
$517,800±$52kHighest 56% above U.S. |
| Plympton and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,804±$375Highest 28% above U.S. |
$1,332±$72 6% below U.S. |
$1,424±$141 about the U.S. average |
$555±$148Lowest 61% below U.S. |
| Halifax and Suffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,840Highest 119% above U.S. |
$5,331Lowest 71% above U.S. |
$6,456 107% above U.S. |
$6,628 113% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.6%±37.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
51%±10Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
51%±4.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.8%±40.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 2.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
29 min 8% above U.S. |
26 minLowest 3% below U.S. |
33 min 25% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.9%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.2%±5.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.4%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.3%±6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Plympton 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 | #120 of 282 in MA | #211 of 282 in MA | #57 of 149 in CT | #110 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Halifax | Southwick-Tolland-Granville Regional School District | Suffield School District | Plympton |
| High school in town | None in town | Southwick Regional School | Suffield High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.0Highest |
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.