Compare towns
Suffield vs Bethlehem vs Willimantic 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%).
Bethlehem has the oldest population (median age 51.5).
Willimantic has the most affordable homes ($191k median).
Southwick has the highest household income ($120k).
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 | Bethlehem | Willimantic | Southwick |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,702 |
3,423Lowest |
18,096Highest |
9,217 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | +2.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±1.7 14% above U.S. |
51.5±8.5Highest 32% above U.S. |
31.3±2.7Lowest 20% below U.S. |
46.8±1.8 20% above U.S. |
| Bethlehem 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% |
16.3%±4 U.S.: 22% |
20.6%±2.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±3 U.S.: 22% |
| Willimantic and Southwick 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% |
24.5%±5.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
11%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bethlehem 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
24.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±3.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
19.1%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $119,472±$13k 48% above U.S. |
$108,929±$16k 35% above U.S. |
$45,962±$7kLowest 43% below U.S. |
$120,462±$16kHighest 49% above U.S. |
| Southwick 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. |
$410,900±$36kHighest 24% above U.S. |
$190,900±$17kLowest 43% below U.S. |
$397,500±$27k 19% above U.S. |
| Bethlehem 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 |
$1,127±$124 20% below U.S. |
$1,063±$68Lowest 25% 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. |
$5,932 90% above U.S. |
$4,678Lowest 50% above U.S. |
$5,331 71% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
69.7%±38.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
51%±10Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Bethlehem and Willimantic 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% |
10.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
23.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
70.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
34.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1953Lowest 27 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 3% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 10% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 12% below U.S. |
29 min 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.4%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.9%±5 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.2%±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 | #82 of 149 in CT | — | #211 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Suffield School District | Regional School District 14 | — | Southwick-Tolland-Granville Regional School District |
| High school in town | Suffield High School | None in town | — | Southwick Regional School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.9Lowest |
— | — | 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.