What stands out worked out from the figures below

Suffield has the shortest commute (26 min average).

Ashby has the oldest population (median age 50.5).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Suffield	Ashby
People
Population	15,702Highest	3,211Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	+3.9% U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	44.5±1.7Lowest 14% above U.S.	50.5±3Highest 30% above U.S.
Kids under 18	16.2%±2Lowest U.S.: 22%	17%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22%
	Ashby and Suffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	18.4%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	21.5%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Ashby and Suffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	40.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	43.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.4%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4%	3%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Suffield and Ashby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$119,472±$13kHighest 48% above U.S.	$115,598±$9kLowest 43% above U.S.
	Suffield and Ashby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$407,500±$26kHighest 22% above U.S.	$390,500±$30kLowest 17% above U.S.
	Suffield and Ashby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,424±$141Highest about the U.S. average	$1,200±$484Lowest 15% below U.S.
	Suffield and Ashby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,456Highest 107% above U.S.	$6,034Lowest 93% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	51%±4.6Highest U.S.: 51.1%	36.4%±53.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Suffield and Ashby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	2.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	86.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	95.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S.	1970Lowest 10 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minLowest 3% below U.S.	33 minHighest 25% above U.S.
Work from home	18.4%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1%	17.8%±5.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Suffield and Ashby 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	#57 of 149 in CT	#200 of 282 in MA
School district	Suffield School District	North Middlesex
High school in town	Suffield High School	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	10.9	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.