Compare towns
Rochester vs Suffield vs Wolcott vs Westminster
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 most expensive homes ($599k median).
Suffield has the most people working from home (18.4%).
Wolcott has the most affordable homes ($326k median).
Westminster has the most kids (21.3% 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 | Westminster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,837Lowest |
15,702 |
16,279Highest |
8,374 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — | +12.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.5±6 20% above U.S. |
44.5±1.7 14% above U.S. |
44.4±2.5Lowest 14% above U.S. |
48.3±4.6Highest 24% above U.S. |
| Westminster and Rochester 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% |
21.3%±4.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Westminster and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.1%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.4%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
26%±5.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Westminster and Rochester 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% |
45.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.8%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Wolcott and Suffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $120,273±$12kHighest 49% above U.S. |
$119,472±$13k 48% above U.S. |
$110,850±$10k 37% above U.S. |
$106,331±$22kLowest 32% above U.S. |
| Rochester and Suffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $599,100±$31kHighest 80% above U.S. |
$407,500±$26k 22% above U.S. |
$326,200±$17kLowest about the U.S. average |
$422,000±$36k 27% above U.S. |
| 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. |
$1,843±$268Highest 30% above U.S. |
| Westminster and Wolcott are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,530Highest 109% above U.S. |
$6,456 107% above U.S. |
$5,799 86% above U.S. |
$4,973Lowest 59% 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% |
60%±27.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Westminster and Suffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
1.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.3% 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% |
87.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older 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. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| 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% |
12.5%±4.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Suffield and Westminster 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 | #112 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Old Colony Regional Vocational Technical · Rochester | Suffield School District | Wolcott School District | Ashburnham-Westminster |
| High school in town | Old Colony Regional Vocational Technical | Suffield High School | Wolcott High School | Oakmont Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.1Lowest |
10.9 |
10.1 |
13.6Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.