Compare towns
Melrose vs Somers vs Suffield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Melrose has the most expensive homes ($823k median).
Somers has the most kids (21.1% under 18).
Suffield has the shortest commute (26 min average).
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 | Melrose | Somers | Suffield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 29,650Highest |
10,308Lowest |
15,702 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 43.6±1.1 12% above U.S. |
43.1±2.6Lowest 11% above U.S. |
44.5±1.7Highest 14% above U.S. |
| Suffield and Melrose are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.2%±2.1 U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±4.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.2%±2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Somers and Melrose are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.6%±2.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.4%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Melrose and Somers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 62%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Melrose and Suffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $133,953±$14kHighest 66% above U.S. |
$124,705±$15k 54% above U.S. |
$119,472±$13kLowest 48% above U.S. |
| Melrose and Somers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $822,900±$20kHighest 147% above U.S. |
$395,800±$21kLowest 19% above U.S. |
$407,500±$26k 22% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,970±$149Highest 39% above U.S. |
$1,184±$346Lowest 16% below U.S. |
$1,424±$141 about the U.S. average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,578Highest 143% above U.S. |
$6,456Lowest 107% above U.S. |
$6,456Lowest 107% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.3%±8.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.6%±13.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
51%±4.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Somers and Suffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 31% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
26 minLowest 3% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 29.6%±2.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.2%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.4%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #62 of 282 in MA | #66 of 149 in CT | #57 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Melrose | Somers School District | Suffield School District |
| High school in town | Melrose High | Somers High School | Suffield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
7.7Lowest |
10.9 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.