Compare towns
Salem vs Somers vs Suffield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Salem has the most kids (23.2% under 18).
Somers has the most affordable homes ($396k median).
Suffield has the shortest commute (26 min average).
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 | Salem | Somers | Suffield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,282Lowest |
10,308 |
15,702Highest |
| Median age | 40.9±5.4Lowest about the CT average |
43.1±2.6 5% above CT |
44.5±1.7Highest 8% above CT |
| Suffield and Somers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23.2%±5.1Highest CT: 20.2% |
21.1%±4.8 CT: 20.2% |
16.2%±2Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Salem and Somers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.7%±4.7Highest CT: 18.5% |
19.7%±2.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
18.4%±2.2Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 50.6%Highest CT: 42.5% |
37.2%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
40.4% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±3.3Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.8%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
4.4%±1.2 CT: 7.1% |
| Salem and Suffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $123,245±$8k 29% above CT |
$124,705±$15kHighest 30% above CT |
$119,472±$13kLowest 25% above CT |
| Somers and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $403,600±$33k 10% above CT |
$395,800±$21kLowest 8% above CT |
$407,500±$26kHighest 11% above CT |
| Suffield and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,440±$150Highest 3% below CT |
$1,184±$346Lowest 20% below CT |
$1,424±$141 4% below CT |
| Salem and Suffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,668Highest about the CT average |
$6,456Lowest about the CT average |
$6,456Lowest about the CT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32.1%±26Lowest CT: 52.6% |
51.6%±13.9Highest CT: 52.6% |
51%±4.6 CT: 52.6% |
| Somers and Suffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.2%Highest CT: 10% |
2.7%Lowest CT: 10% |
4.6% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.6%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
87.6%Highest CT: 66.5% |
86.7% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 21 yrs newer than CT |
1979Lowest 12 yrs newer than CT |
1979Lowest 12 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 19% above CT |
28 min 4% above CT |
26 minLowest 3% below CT |
| Work from home | 18%±9.6 CT: 16% |
16.2%±4.6Lowest CT: 16% |
18.4%±4.1Highest CT: 16% |
| Suffield and Salem 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 | #11 of 149 in CT | #66 of 149 in CT | #57 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Salem School District | Somers School District | Suffield School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Somers High School | Suffield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 7.7Lowest |
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.