Compare towns
Northfield vs Suffield vs Oakham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Northfield has the most affordable homes ($376k median).
Suffield has the shortest commute (26 min average).
Oakham has the most kids (18.2% under 18).
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 | Northfield | Suffield | Oakham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,872 |
15,702Highest |
1,639Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -2.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.9±4.2 26% above U.S. |
44.5±1.7Lowest 14% above U.S. |
49±2.3Highest 26% above U.S. |
| Oakham and Northfield 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%±2 U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±3.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Oakham and Suffield 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% |
21.4%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Northfield and Oakham 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
40.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $103,375±$10k 28% above U.S. |
$119,472±$13kHighest 48% above U.S. |
$102,000±$20kLowest 26% 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±$26k 22% above U.S. |
$420,100±$20kHighest 26% above U.S. |
| Oakham and Suffield 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 |
$1,174±$81 17% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,594 47% above U.S. |
$6,456Highest 107% above U.S. |
$4,103Lowest 32% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.2%±25.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
51%±4.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
27.8%±69.1Lowest 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
91.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962Lowest 18 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 | 31 min 19% above U.S. |
26 minLowest 3% below U.S. |
39 minHighest 46% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.5%±10.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.4%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.6%±3.8Lowest 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 | Quabbin |
| High school in town | Pioneer Valley Regional | Suffield High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7Lowest |
10.9Highest |
— |
| 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.