Compare towns
Suffield vs Ayer vs East Hampton vs Windsor Locks
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 oldest population (median age 44.5).
Ayer has the most people working from home (21.6%).
East Hampton has the most kids (21.4% under 18).
Windsor Locks has the most affordable homes ($259k 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 | Suffield | Ayer | East Hampton | Windsor Locks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,702Highest |
8,645Lowest |
12,925 |
12,579 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +14.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 44.5±1.7Highest 14% above U.S. |
39.2±2.8Lowest about the U.S. average |
43.6±3.7 12% above U.S. |
41.4±2.6 6% above U.S. |
| Suffield and East Hampton 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% |
20.3%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
21.4%±3Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
| East Hampton 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% |
14.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.8%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| East Hampton 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
42.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
39% U.S.: 35.7% |
28.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Windsor Locks and East Hampton 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. |
$101,875±$15k 26% above U.S. |
$124,577±$11kHighest 54% above U.S. |
$81,205±$13kLowest about the U.S. average |
| East Hampton and Suffield 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. |
$463,800±$29kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$349,000±$14k 5% above U.S. |
$258,800±$14kLowest 22% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,424±$141Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,415±$180 about the U.S. average |
$1,393±$150Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,394±$187 about the U.S. average |
| Suffield and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,456 107% above U.S. |
$5,057 62% above U.S. |
$6,681Highest 114% above U.S. |
$3,688Lowest 18% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51%±4.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±14.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.7%±16.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
58.2%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Windsor Locks 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% |
10.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
77.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 3% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.4%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.6%±5.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.7%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±3.7 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 | #75 of 149 in CT | #109 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Suffield School District | Ayer Shirley School District | East Hampton School District | Windsor Locks School District |
| High school in town | Suffield High School | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | East Hampton High School | Windsor Locks High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.9 |
11.5Highest |
11.3 |
8.9Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 12 photos → | 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.