Compare towns
Suffield vs Ayer vs Somers vs Southwick
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Suffield has the shortest commute (26 min average).
Ayer has the most renters (41.9% rent).
Somers has the highest household income ($125k).
Southwick has the oldest population (median age 46.8).
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 | Suffield | Ayer | Somers | Southwick |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,702Highest |
3,098Lowest |
10,308 |
9,217 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +4.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -2.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±1.7 14% above U.S. |
42.1±6.9Lowest 8% above U.S. |
43.1±2.6 11% above U.S. |
46.8±1.8Highest 20% 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 | 16.2%±2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.8%±5.3 U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±4.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±3 U.S.: 22% |
| Somers and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.4%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.3%±5.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
21%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Southwick and Somers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
37.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
35.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±3 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Southwick and Suffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $119,472±$13k 48% above U.S. |
$74,878±$17kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$124,705±$15kHighest 54% above U.S. |
$120,462±$16k 49% above U.S. |
| Somers and Southwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $407,500±$26k 22% above U.S. |
$444,600±$43kHighest 34% above U.S. |
$395,800±$21kLowest 19% above U.S. |
$397,500±$27k 19% above U.S. |
| Ayer and Suffield 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 |
$1,240±$169 12% below U.S. |
$1,184±$346Lowest 16% below U.S. |
$1,332±$72 6% below U.S. |
| Suffield and Southwick 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. |
$4,911Lowest 57% above U.S. |
$6,456Highest 107% above U.S. |
$5,331 71% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51%±4.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±21.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.6%±13.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
51%±10 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 | 4.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
58.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1952Lowest 28 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest 3% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
29 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.4%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.8%±6.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.2%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.2%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ayer 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 | #57 of 149 in CT | #113 of 282 in MA | #66 of 149 in CT | #211 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Suffield School District | — | Somers School District | Southwick-Tolland-Granville Regional School District |
| High school in town | Suffield High School | — | Somers High School | Southwick Regional School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.9 |
— | 7.7Lowest |
11.0Highest |
| 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.