Compare towns
Salem vs Suffield vs Pomfret vs Middlebury
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 youngest population (median age 40.9).
Suffield has the most people working from home (18.4%).
Pomfret has the most renters (19.5% rent).
Middlebury has the most expensive homes ($476k 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 | Pomfret | Middlebury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,282Lowest |
15,702Highest |
4,317 |
7,807 |
| Median age | 40.9±5.4Lowest about the CT average |
44.5±1.7 8% above CT |
45.9±3.7Highest 12% above CT |
44.4±2.3 8% above CT |
| Pomfret and Suffield 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% |
16.2%±2Lowest CT: 20.2% |
23.1%±4.9 CT: 20.2% |
22%±3.8 CT: 20.2% |
| Salem and Pomfret 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%±2.2 CT: 18.5% |
17.8%±4.5Lowest CT: 18.5% |
22.7%±4.2Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Middlebury 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% CT: 42.5% |
40.4%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
50.8% CT: 42.5% |
53.3%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±3.3Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.4%±1.2Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.9 CT: 7.1% |
5.8%±2.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $123,245±$8k 29% above CT |
$119,472±$13k 25% above CT |
$108,476±$8kLowest 13% above CT |
$133,487±$26kHighest 39% above CT |
| Middlebury 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±$33kLowest 10% above CT |
$407,500±$26k 11% above CT |
$409,100±$28k 12% above CT |
$476,400±$23kHighest 30% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,440±$150Highest 3% below CT |
$1,424±$141 4% below CT |
$1,210±$300 19% below CT |
$398±$387Lowest 73% 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 | $6,668 about the CT average |
$6,456 about the CT average |
$5,903Lowest 11% below CT |
$8,434Highest 27% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32.1%±26 CT: 52.6% |
51%±4.6 CT: 52.6% |
61.9%±15.3Highest CT: 52.6% |
12.7%±6.9Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Pomfret 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% |
4.6%Lowest CT: 10% |
6% CT: 10% |
5.8% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.6% CT: 66.5% |
86.7% CT: 66.5% |
80.5%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
87.8%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 21 yrs newer than CT |
1979 12 yrs newer than CT |
1978 11 yrs newer than CT |
1976Lowest 9 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 19% above CT |
26 min 3% below CT |
24 minLowest 11% below CT |
25 min 5% below CT |
| Work from home | 18%±9.6 CT: 16% |
18.4%±4.1Highest CT: 16% |
13.2%±5.2Lowest CT: 16% |
15.3%±3.2 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 | #57 of 149 in CT | #39 of 149 in CT | #55 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Salem School District | Suffield School District | Pomfret School District | Regional School District 15 |
| High school in town | None in town | Suffield High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.9 |
— | — |
| 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.