Compare towns
Natick vs Southwick 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
Natick has the most expensive homes ($821k median).
Southwick has the oldest population (median age 46.8).
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 | Natick | Southwick | Suffield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 36,873Highest |
9,217Lowest |
15,702 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 43.3±1.4Lowest 11% above U.S. |
46.8±1.8Highest 20% above U.S. |
44.5±1.7 14% above U.S. |
| Southwick and Suffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.2%±1.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±3 U.S.: 22% |
16.2%±2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Natick and Southwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.4%±1.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
21%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.4%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Southwick and Natick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 70.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Natick and Southwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $138,538±$11kHighest 72% above U.S. |
$120,462±$16k 49% above U.S. |
$119,472±$13kLowest 48% above U.S. |
| Natick and Southwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $821,000±$25kHighest 147% above U.S. |
$397,500±$27kLowest 19% above U.S. |
$407,500±$26k 22% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,134±$124Highest 51% above U.S. |
$1,332±$72Lowest 6% below U.S. |
$1,424±$141 about the U.S. average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,914Highest 186% above U.S. |
$5,331Lowest 71% above U.S. |
$6,456 107% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±6.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
51%±10Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
51%±4.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 5.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 16% above U.S. |
29 min 8% above U.S. |
26 minLowest 3% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 25.1%±1.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.2%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.4%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #48 of 282 in MA | #211 of 282 in MA | #57 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Natick | Southwick-Tolland-Granville Regional School District | Suffield School District |
| High school in town | Natick High | Southwick Regional School | Suffield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.6Highest |
11.0 |
10.9Lowest |
| 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.