Compare towns
Somers vs Walpole vs Suffield vs Ellington
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Somers has the most homeowners (87.6%).
Walpole has the most expensive homes ($687k median).
Suffield has the shortest commute (26 min average).
Ellington has the most renters (27.8% rent).
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 | Somers | Walpole | Suffield | Ellington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,308Lowest |
26,388Highest |
15,702 |
16,455 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +9.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 43.1±2.6 11% above U.S. |
40.9±1.2Lowest 5% above U.S. |
44.5±1.7Highest 14% above U.S. |
40.9±2.4Lowest 5% above U.S. |
| Suffield and Somers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.1%±4.8 U.S.: 22% |
25.1%±2.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.2%±2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
24%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Walpole and Ellington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.7%±2.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.9%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.4%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Somers and Ellington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
67.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
51.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
6%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Ellington and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $124,705±$15k 54% above U.S. |
$171,500±$16kHighest 112% above U.S. |
$119,472±$13kLowest 48% above U.S. |
$129,913±$17k 61% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $395,800±$21k 19% above U.S. |
$687,100±$20kHighest 107% above U.S. |
$407,500±$26k 22% above U.S. |
$366,900±$17kLowest 10% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,184±$346Lowest 16% below U.S. |
$2,205±$222Highest 56% above U.S. |
$1,424±$141 about the U.S. average |
$1,737±$212 23% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,456Lowest 107% above U.S. |
$8,523Highest 173% above U.S. |
$6,456Lowest 107% above U.S. |
$6,751 116% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.6%±13.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.8%±9.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
51%±4.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
45.5%±10.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Somers and Suffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
72.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
26 minLowest 3% below U.S. |
31 min 18% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.2%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
28.2%±4.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.4%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.4%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #66 of 149 in CT | #107 of 282 in MA | #57 of 149 in CT | #46 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Somers School District | Norfolk County Agricultural · Walpole | Suffield School District | Ellington School District |
| High school in town | Somers High School | Walpole High | Suffield High School | Ellington High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.7Lowest |
11.3Highest |
10.9 |
10.3 |
| 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.