Compare towns
Hampton vs Suffield vs Columbia
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hampton has the most kids (19.7% under 18).
Suffield has the youngest population (median age 44.5).
Columbia has the most people working from home (21.6%).
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 | Hampton | Suffield | Columbia |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,647Lowest |
15,702Highest |
5,300 |
| Median age | 51.5±5.3Highest 25% above CT |
44.5±1.7Lowest 8% above CT |
51.3±10.3 25% above CT |
| Hampton and Columbia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.7%±5.3Highest CT: 20.2% |
16.2%±2 CT: 20.2% |
13.7%±4.3Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Hampton and Suffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.1%±2.1Highest CT: 18.5% |
18.4%±2.2Lowest CT: 18.5% |
24.9%±5.4 CT: 18.5% |
| Hampton and Columbia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 29.9%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
40.4%Highest CT: 42.5% |
34.6% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±1.1Lowest CT: 7.1% |
4.4%±1.2 CT: 7.1% |
4.8%±2.5Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Columbia and Suffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $109,167±$19kLowest 14% above CT |
$119,472±$13k 25% above CT |
$127,000±$30kHighest 33% above CT |
| Columbia and Suffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $295,800±$27kLowest 19% below CT |
$407,500±$26kHighest 11% above CT |
$361,500±$16k about the CT average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,285±$288 14% below CT |
$1,424±$141Highest 4% below CT |
$966±$304Lowest 35% below CT |
| Suffield and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,364Lowest 34% below CT |
$6,456Highest about the CT average |
$5,228 21% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.5%±51.5Highest CT: 52.6% |
51%±4.6 CT: 52.6% |
17.6%±16.2Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Hampton and Suffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.7% CT: 10% |
4.6%Lowest CT: 10% |
6.1%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90%Highest CT: 66.5% |
86.7% CT: 66.5% |
83.3%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 13 yrs newer than CT |
1979Lowest 12 yrs newer than CT |
1984Highest 17 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 9% above CT |
26 minLowest 3% below CT |
32 minHighest 21% above CT |
| Work from home | 17.7%±5.1Lowest CT: 16% |
18.4%±4.1 CT: 16% |
21.6%±6Highest CT: 16% |
| Columbia 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 | — | #57 of 149 in CT | #114 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Hampton School District | Suffield School District | Columbia School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Suffield High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.9 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.