Compare towns
Suffield vs Bethany vs Norwich 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 most people working from home (18.4%).
Bethany has the highest household income ($166k).
Norwich has the most affordable homes ($242k median).
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 | Bethany | Norwich | Southwick |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,702 |
5,288Lowest |
39,973Highest |
9,217 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | -0.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±1.7 14% above U.S. |
42.5±2.9 9% above U.S. |
38.5±1.7Lowest about the U.S. average |
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% |
20.3%±5.9 U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±1.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±3 U.S.: 22% |
| Norwich and Bethany 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% |
17.2%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.9%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Southwick 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% |
58%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
23.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.8%±3.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Bethany and Norwich 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. |
$166,236±$20kHighest 106% above U.S. |
$65,024±$5kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$120,462±$16k 49% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $407,500±$26k 22% above U.S. |
$418,000±$42kHighest 26% above U.S. |
$242,300±$11kLowest 27% below U.S. |
$397,500±$27k 19% above U.S. |
| Bethany 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 |
— | $1,253±$68Lowest 11% 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 | $6,456 107% above U.S. |
$8,313Highest 167% above U.S. |
$4,703Lowest 51% above U.S. |
$5,331 71% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51%±4.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.2%±7.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
51%±10 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Norwich 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% |
2.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
16.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
97.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
53.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1970 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1957Lowest 23 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 3% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 22% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
29 min 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.4%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12%±5.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.2%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.2%±5.1 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 | #30 of 149 in CT | #133 of 149 in CT | #211 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Suffield School District | Bethany School District · Regional School District 05 | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Norwich School District | Southwick-Tolland-Granville Regional School District |
| High school in town | Suffield High School | None in town | Norwich Free Academy | Southwick Regional School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.9Lowest |
— | 14.8Highest |
11.0 |
| 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.