Compare towns
Sandy Hook vs Southwick vs Suffield vs Tolland
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sandy Hook has the most expensive homes ($501k median).
Southwick has the oldest population (median age 46.8).
Suffield has the shortest commute (26 min average).
Tolland has the most affordable homes ($366k 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 | Sandy Hook | Southwick | Suffield | Tolland |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,863 |
9,217Lowest |
15,702Highest |
14,606 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 43.1±3 11% above U.S. |
46.8±1.8Highest 20% above U.S. |
44.5±1.7 14% above U.S. |
41.4±2.5Lowest 6% above U.S. |
| Southwick and Suffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.6%±4.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±3 U.S.: 22% |
16.2%±2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.6%±3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 14.4%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.4%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.3%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Southwick and Suffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 60.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
56.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.4%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Tolland and Sandy Hook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $160,814±$25kHighest 99% above U.S. |
$120,462±$16k 49% above U.S. |
$119,472±$13kLowest 48% above U.S. |
$133,264±$16k 65% above U.S. |
| Sandy Hook and Tolland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $501,200±$33kHighest 51% above U.S. |
$397,500±$27k 19% above U.S. |
$407,500±$26k 22% above U.S. |
$365,500±$21kLowest 10% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,866±$439Highest 32% above U.S. |
$1,332±$72Lowest 6% below U.S. |
$1,424±$141 about the U.S. average |
$1,680±$119 19% above U.S. |
| Sandy Hook and Tolland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$5,331Lowest 71% above U.S. |
$6,456 107% above U.S. |
$7,403 137% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.4%±26.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
51%±10Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
51%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
73.5%±62.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Tolland and Sandy Hook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
29 min 8% above U.S. |
26 minLowest 3% below U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 23.1%±4.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.2%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.4%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
20.6%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sandy Hook and Tolland 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 | — | #211 of 282 in MA | #57 of 149 in CT | #60 of 149 in CT |
| School district | — | Southwick-Tolland-Granville Regional School District | Suffield School District | Tolland School District |
| High school in town | — | Southwick Regional School | Suffield High School | Tolland High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.0 |
10.9Lowest |
12.4Highest |
| 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.