Compare towns
Prospect vs Suffield vs Cheshire vs Harwinton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Prospect has the oldest population (median age 46.8).
Suffield has the youngest population (median age 44.5).
Cheshire has the highest household income ($147k).
Harwinton has the most affordable homes ($352k median).
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 | Prospect | Suffield | Cheshire | Harwinton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,458 |
15,702 |
29,040Highest |
5,575Lowest |
| Median age | 46.8±3.9Highest 14% above CT |
44.5±1.7Lowest 8% above CT |
44.9±1.4 9% above CT |
46.1±4.3 12% above CT |
| Prospect and Harwinton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.4%±4.1 CT: 20.2% |
16.2%±2Lowest CT: 20.2% |
21.9%±2.3Highest CT: 20.2% |
20%±4.2 CT: 20.2% |
| Cheshire and Prospect are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 24.5%±4.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
18.4%±2.2Lowest CT: 18.5% |
21.3%±1.8 CT: 18.5% |
22.1%±3.5 CT: 18.5% |
| Prospect and Harwinton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40.3%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
40.4% CT: 42.5% |
60.7%Highest CT: 42.5% |
40.3%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.8Lowest CT: 7.1% |
4.4%±1.2 CT: 7.1% |
4.5%±1.1 CT: 7.1% |
6.7%±2.9Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Harwinton and Cheshire are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $126,394±$18k 32% above CT |
$119,472±$13kLowest 25% above CT |
$146,528±$12kHighest 53% above CT |
$129,643±$18k 35% above CT |
| Cheshire and Harwinton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $355,400±$21k 3% below CT |
$407,500±$26k 11% above CT |
$440,000±$17kHighest 20% above CT |
$352,100±$16kLowest 4% below CT |
| Cheshire and Suffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,800±$433Highest 21% above CT |
$1,424±$141 4% below CT |
$1,398±$116Lowest 6% below CT |
$1,504±$200 about the CT average |
| Prospect and Harwinton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,504 about the CT average |
$6,456 about the CT average |
$7,755Highest 17% above CT |
$5,503Lowest 17% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.3%±31.8 CT: 52.6% |
51%±4.6Highest CT: 52.6% |
44.9%±6.3 CT: 52.6% |
27.8%±27.9Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Suffield and Prospect are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.2%Lowest CT: 10% |
4.6% CT: 10% |
5%Highest CT: 10% |
4.8% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.5%Highest CT: 66.5% |
86.7% CT: 66.5% |
86.6%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
93% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 7 yrs newer than CT |
1979Highest 12 yrs newer than CT |
1974 7 yrs newer than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 4% above CT |
26 minLowest 3% below CT |
29 minHighest 9% above CT |
26 minLowest 3% below CT |
| Work from home | 10.1%±3.2Lowest CT: 16% |
18.4%±4.1 CT: 16% |
19.1%±2.7Highest CT: 16% |
13.5%±4.7 CT: 16% |
| Cheshire and Suffield 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 | #50 of 149 in CT | #57 of 149 in CT | #18 of 149 in CT | #34 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Regional School District 16 | Suffield School District | Cheshire School District | Regional School District 10 |
| High school in town | None in town | Suffield High School | Cheshire High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.9Lowest |
11.6Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.