Compare towns
Salem vs Suffield vs East Haddam
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).
Suffield has the shortest commute (26 min average).
East Haddam has the most affordable homes ($353k 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 | Salem | Suffield | East Haddam |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,282Lowest |
15,702Highest |
8,969 |
| Median age | 40.9±5.4Lowest about the CT average |
44.5±1.7 8% above CT |
50±2.9Highest 22% above CT |
| Kids under 18 | 23.2%±5.1Highest CT: 20.2% |
16.2%±2Lowest CT: 20.2% |
17.2%±3.7 CT: 20.2% |
| Salem and East Haddam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.7%±4.7 CT: 18.5% |
18.4%±2.2Lowest CT: 18.5% |
25.6%±3.7Highest CT: 18.5% |
| East Haddam and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 50.6%Highest CT: 42.5% |
40.4% CT: 42.5% |
38.1%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±3.3Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.4%±1.2Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.3%±2.5 CT: 7.1% |
| Salem and East Haddam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $123,245±$8kHighest 29% above CT |
$119,472±$13k 25% above CT |
$107,861±$9kLowest 13% above CT |
| Salem and Suffield 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 |
$407,500±$26kHighest 11% above CT |
$352,700±$24kLowest 4% below 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 |
$1,424±$141 4% below CT |
$1,242±$331Lowest 17% 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 |
$6,456 about the CT average |
$5,724Lowest 14% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32.1%±26 CT: 52.6% |
51%±4.6Highest CT: 52.6% |
26%±13Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Suffield and Salem 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% |
4.6% CT: 10% |
4.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.6%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
86.7% CT: 66.5% |
88.8%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 21 yrs newer than CT |
1979 12 yrs newer than CT |
1976Lowest 9 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 19% above CT |
26 minLowest 3% below CT |
30 min 14% above CT |
| Work from home | 18%±9.6Lowest CT: 16% |
18.4%±4.1Highest CT: 16% |
18.4%±3.5Highest CT: 16% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #11 of 149 in CT | #57 of 149 in CT | #68 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Salem School District | Suffield School District | East Haddam School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Suffield High School | Nathan Hale-Ray High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.9Highest |
7.9Lowest |
| 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.