What stands out worked out from the figures below

Northfield has the oldest population (median age 48.9).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Northfield	Suffield
People
Population	2,872Lowest	15,702Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-5.5% U.S.: +7.4%	—
Median age	48.9±4.2Highest 26% above U.S.	44.5±1.7Lowest 14% above U.S.
	Northfield and Suffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	14.8%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22%	16.2%±2Highest U.S.: 22%
	Suffield and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	25.5%±5.1Highest U.S.: 17.2%	18.4%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Northfield and Suffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	42.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	40.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.4%±3 U.S.: 6.4%	4.4%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$103,375±$10kLowest 28% above U.S.	$119,472±$13kHighest 48% above U.S.
	Suffield and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$375,800±$31kLowest 13% above U.S.	$407,500±$26kHighest 22% above U.S.
	Suffield and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,142±$200Lowest 19% below U.S.	$1,424±$141Highest about the U.S. average
	Suffield and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,594Lowest 47% above U.S.	$6,456Highest 107% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	49.2%±25.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	51%±4.6Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Suffield and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	4.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	85.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1962Lowest 18 yrs older than U.S.	1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minHighest 19% above U.S.	26 minLowest 3% below U.S.
Work from home	16.5%±10.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	18.4%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Suffield and Northfield 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	#231 of 282 in MA	#57 of 149 in CT
School district	Pioneer Valley	Suffield School District
High school in town	Pioneer Valley Regional	Suffield High School
Students per teacherat that high school	10.7Lowest	10.9Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.