Compare towns
Rochester vs Suffield vs Wolcott vs Mendon
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Rochester has the oldest population (median age 46.5).
Suffield has the most people working from home (18.4%).
Wolcott has the most affordable homes ($326k median).
Mendon has the most kids (22.8% 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 | Rochester | Suffield | Wolcott | Mendon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,837Lowest |
15,702 |
16,279Highest |
6,325 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — | +6.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.5±6Highest 20% above U.S. |
44.5±1.7 14% above U.S. |
44.4±2.5 14% above U.S. |
44.1±4.4Lowest 13% above U.S. |
| Rochester and Suffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.1%±4.6 U.S.: 22% |
16.2%±2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
22.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Mendon and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.1%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.4%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.7%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Rochester and Wolcott are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
40.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
37%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.8%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Mendon and Wolcott are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $120,273±$12k 49% above U.S. |
$119,472±$13k 48% above U.S. |
$110,850±$10kLowest 37% above U.S. |
$132,256±$33kHighest 64% above U.S. |
| Mendon and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $599,100±$31k 80% above U.S. |
$407,500±$26k 22% above U.S. |
$326,200±$17kLowest about the U.S. average |
$616,000±$37kHighest 85% above U.S. |
| Mendon and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,432±$743 about the U.S. average |
$1,424±$141Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,464±$913 4% above U.S. |
$1,840±$196Highest 30% above U.S. |
| Mendon and Wolcott are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,530 109% above U.S. |
$6,456 107% above U.S. |
$5,799Lowest 86% above U.S. |
$7,213Highest 131% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.1%±10.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
51%±4.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
49.8%±24.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
78.7%±26Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Mendon and Suffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
1.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 38% above U.S. |
26 minLowest 3% below U.S. |
30 min 13% above U.S. |
30 min 14% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.3%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.4%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.2%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.1%±5.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Suffield and Mendon 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 | #104 of 282 in MA | #57 of 149 in CT | #76 of 149 in CT | #210 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Old Colony Regional Vocational Technical · Rochester | Suffield School District | Wolcott School District | Mendon-Upton |
| High school in town | Old Colony Regional Vocational Technical | Suffield High School | Wolcott High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.1Lowest |
10.9Highest |
10.1 |
— |
| 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.