Compare towns
Oxford vs Preston vs Suffield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Oxford has the most expensive homes ($472k median).
Preston has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Suffield has the most people working from home (18.4%).
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 | Oxford | Preston | Suffield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 12,991 |
4,821Lowest |
15,702Highest |
| Median age | 45.2±5.7 10% above CT |
46.2±7Highest 12% above CT |
44.5±1.7Lowest 8% above CT |
| Preston and Oxford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.3%±4.7Highest CT: 20.2% |
18.7%±4.4 CT: 20.2% |
16.2%±2Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Oxford and Preston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.9%±3.2 CT: 18.5% |
23%±4.7Highest CT: 18.5% |
18.4%±2.2Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Preston and Oxford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46.3%Highest CT: 42.5% |
28.5%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
40.4% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
4.9%±2.4Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.4%±1.2 CT: 7.1% |
| Preston and Suffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $128,953±$23kHighest 35% above CT |
$116,648±$27kLowest 22% above CT |
$119,472±$13k 25% above CT |
| Oxford and Suffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $472,400±$20kHighest 29% above CT |
$361,900±$13kLowest about the CT average |
$407,500±$26k 11% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,415±$87Lowest 5% below CT |
$1,433±$1kHighest 4% below CT |
$1,424±$141 4% below CT |
| Preston and Suffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,442 3% below CT |
$4,749Lowest 29% below CT |
$6,456Highest about the CT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 23.3%±15.8Lowest CT: 52.6% |
52.6%±12.5Highest CT: 52.6% |
51%±4.6 CT: 52.6% |
| Preston and Suffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4% CT: 10% |
2.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
4.6%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.4% CT: 66.5% |
91.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
86.7%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 19 yrs newer than CT |
1970Lowest 3 yrs newer than CT |
1979 12 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 14% above CT |
22 minLowest 17% below CT |
26 min 3% below CT |
| Work from home | 14.4%±3.7 CT: 16% |
10.3%±6Lowest CT: 16% |
18.4%±4.1Highest CT: 16% |
| Suffield and Oxford 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 | #78 of 149 in CT | #93 of 149 in CT | #57 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Oxford School District | Preston School District | Suffield School District |
| High school in town | Oxford High School | None in town | Suffield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.1Lowest |
— | 10.9Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
CT 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.