Compare towns
Suffield vs Berlin vs Southwick vs Somers
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 most people working from home (18.4%).
Berlin has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Somers has the most kids (21.1% under 18).
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 | Berlin | Southwick | Somers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,702 |
20,361Highest |
9,217Lowest |
10,308 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | -2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 44.5±1.7 14% above U.S. |
48.7±3Highest 25% above U.S. |
46.8±1.8 20% above U.S. |
43.1±2.6Lowest 11% above U.S. |
| Berlin and Southwick 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% |
19.4%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±3 U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±4.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Somers and Berlin 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% |
23.5%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Berlin and Southwick 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% |
44.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.2%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Berlin and Southwick 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. |
$113,598±$11kLowest 41% above U.S. |
$120,462±$16k 49% above U.S. |
$124,705±$15kHighest 54% 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±$26kHighest 22% above U.S. |
$374,600±$13kLowest 13% above U.S. |
$397,500±$27k 19% above U.S. |
$395,800±$21k 19% above U.S. |
| Suffield and Southwick 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 |
$1,402±$88 about the U.S. average |
$1,332±$72 6% below U.S. |
$1,184±$346Lowest 16% below U.S. |
| Suffield and Berlin 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. |
$7,291Highest 134% above U.S. |
$5,331Lowest 71% above U.S. |
$6,456 107% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
63.4%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
51%±10Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.6%±13.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Berlin and Somers 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% |
3.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
4% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 3% below U.S. |
21 minLowest 20% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.4%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.4%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.2%±5.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.2%±4.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Suffield and Southwick 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 | #73 of 149 in CT | #211 of 282 in MA | #66 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Suffield School District | Berlin School District | Southwick-Tolland-Granville Regional School District | Somers School District |
| High school in town | Suffield High School | Berlin High School | Southwick Regional School | Somers High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.9 |
11.5Highest |
11.0 |
7.7Lowest |
| 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.