Compare towns
Suffield vs Ayer vs Wolcott vs Watertown
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 highest household income ($119k).
Ayer has the most renters (30.8% rent).
Wolcott has the most affordable homes ($326k median).
Watertown has the shortest commute (24 min average).
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 | Wolcott | Watertown |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,702 |
8,645Lowest |
16,279 |
22,253Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +14.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 44.5±1.7 14% above U.S. |
39.2±2.8Lowest about the U.S. average |
44.4±2.5 14% above U.S. |
46.3±2.9Highest 19% above U.S. |
| Watertown 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% |
20.3%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
17.7%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Ayer and Wolcott 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% |
18.8%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
23.3%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Watertown and Wolcott 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% |
37%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
38.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Wolcott and Ayer 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. |
$101,875±$15k 26% above U.S. |
$110,850±$10k 37% above U.S. |
$101,691±$7kLowest 26% above U.S. |
| Suffield and Wolcott 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. |
$326,200±$17kLowest about the U.S. average |
$333,500±$16k about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,424±$141 about the U.S. average |
$1,415±$180 about the U.S. average |
$1,464±$913Highest 4% above U.S. |
$1,275±$227Lowest 10% below U.S. |
| Wolcott and Suffield 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. |
$5,057Lowest 62% above U.S. |
$5,799 86% above U.S. |
$6,014 93% 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% |
49.8%±24.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
56.6%±13.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Watertown 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%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
1.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1969Lowest 11 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 13% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.4%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.6%±5.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.2%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.1%±2.3Lowest 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 | #76 of 149 in CT | #126 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Suffield School District | Ayer Shirley School District | Wolcott School District | Watertown School District |
| High school in town | Suffield High School | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | Wolcott High School | Watertown High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.9 |
11.5Highest |
10.1Lowest |
10.6 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 12 photos → | 6 photos → | 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.