Compare towns
Northfield vs Suffield vs Windsor Locks 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
Suffield has the highest household income ($119k).
Windsor Locks has the most affordable homes ($259k median).
Oakham has the most homeowners (91.6%).
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 | Northfield | Suffield | Windsor Locks | Oakham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,872 |
15,702Highest |
12,579 |
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±1.7 14% above U.S. |
41.4±2.6Lowest 6% 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% |
18.6%±3.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Windsor Locks and Oakham 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%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.7Lowest 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% |
28.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±3 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Windsor Locks and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $103,375±$10k 28% above U.S. |
$119,472±$13kHighest 48% above U.S. |
$81,205±$13kLowest about the U.S. average |
$102,000±$20k 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±$31k 13% above U.S. |
$407,500±$26k 22% above U.S. |
$258,800±$14kLowest 22% below 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 |
$1,394±$187 about the U.S. average |
$1,174±$81 17% below U.S. |
| Suffield and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,594 47% above U.S. |
$6,456Highest 107% above U.S. |
$3,688Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$4,103 32% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.2%±25.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
51%±4.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
58.2%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
27.8%±69.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Windsor Locks and Suffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
77.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 19% above U.S. |
26 min 3% below U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% 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% |
17.7%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.6%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Suffield and Windsor Locks 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 | #109 of 149 in CT | — |
| School district | Pioneer Valley | Suffield School District | Windsor Locks School District | Quabbin |
| High school in town | Pioneer Valley Regional | Suffield High School | Windsor Locks High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7 |
10.9Highest |
8.9Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.