Compare towns
Southwick vs Willimantic vs Suffield vs Shirley
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Southwick has the oldest population (median age 46.8).
Willimantic has the most renters (65.1% rent).
Suffield has the most homeowners (86.7%).
Shirley has the most people working from home (21%).
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 | Southwick | Willimantic | Suffield | Shirley |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,217 |
18,096Highest |
15,702 |
6,976Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +3.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.8±1.8Highest 20% above U.S. |
31.3±2.7Lowest 20% below U.S. |
44.5±1.7 14% above U.S. |
44.3±3.4 14% 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 | 18.2%±3 U.S.: 22% |
20.6%±2.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.2%±2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.4%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Willimantic and Southwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
11%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.4%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±5.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Southwick and Shirley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
24.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
19.1%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $120,462±$16k 49% above U.S. |
$45,962±$7kLowest 43% below U.S. |
$119,472±$13k 48% above U.S. |
$122,365±$16kHighest 52% above U.S. |
| Shirley and Southwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $397,500±$27k 19% above U.S. |
$190,900±$17kLowest 43% below U.S. |
$407,500±$26k 22% above U.S. |
$427,600±$36kHighest 29% above U.S. |
| Shirley and Suffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,332±$72 6% below U.S. |
$1,063±$68Lowest 25% below U.S. |
$1,424±$141 about the U.S. average |
$1,481±$421Highest 5% above U.S. |
| Shirley and Suffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,331 71% above U.S. |
$4,678Lowest 50% above U.S. |
$6,456Highest 107% above U.S. |
$5,156 65% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51%±10Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
51%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±21.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Shirley and Willimantic are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
23.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
34.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1953Lowest 27 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 8% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 12% below U.S. |
26 min 3% below U.S. |
40 minHighest 53% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.2%±5.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.2%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.4%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±7.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Shirley and Suffield 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 | #239 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Southwick-Tolland-Granville Regional School District | — | Suffield School District | Ayer Shirley School District |
| High school in town | Southwick Regional School | — | Suffield High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.0Highest |
— | 10.9Lowest |
— |
| 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.