Compare towns
Suffield vs Bolton vs Putnam vs Somers
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Suffield has the most expensive homes ($408k median).
Bolton has the most people working from home (20.7%).
Putnam has the most renters (40.2% rent).
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 | Bolton | Putnam | Somers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,702Highest |
4,853Lowest |
9,292 |
10,308 |
| Median age | 44.5±1.7Highest 8% above CT |
43.7±3.3 6% above CT |
43.7±3 6% above CT |
43.1±2.6Lowest 5% above CT |
| Suffield and Bolton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.2%±2Lowest CT: 20.2% |
20%±3.6 CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.6 CT: 20.2% |
21.1%±4.8Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Somers and Bolton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.4%±2.2Lowest CT: 18.5% |
19.7%±3.4Highest CT: 18.5% |
18.5%±3.1 CT: 18.5% |
19.7%±2.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40.4% CT: 42.5% |
51.3%Highest CT: 42.5% |
20%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
37.2% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±1.2 CT: 7.1% |
7.7%±2.6Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.9%±1.4 CT: 7.1% |
3.8%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Bolton and Suffield 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 25% above CT |
$126,364±$19kHighest 32% above CT |
$70,561±$7kLowest 26% below CT |
$124,705±$15k 30% above CT |
| Bolton and Somers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $407,500±$26kHighest 11% above CT |
$367,600±$17k about the CT average |
$269,200±$11kLowest 27% below CT |
$395,800±$21k 8% above CT |
| Suffield and Somers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,424±$141Highest 4% below CT |
$1,127±$55Lowest 24% below CT |
$1,149±$44 23% below CT |
$1,184±$346 20% below CT |
| Suffield and Somers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,456 about the CT average |
$8,091Highest 22% above CT |
$3,860Lowest 42% below CT |
$6,456 about the CT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51%±4.6 CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±30.8 CT: 52.6% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest CT: 52.6% |
51.6%±13.9Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Somers and Suffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.6% CT: 10% |
7.2% CT: 10% |
11.5%Highest CT: 10% |
2.7%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7% CT: 66.5% |
88%Highest CT: 66.5% |
59.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
87.6% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 12 yrs newer than CT |
1969 2 yrs newer than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
1979Highest 12 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 3% below CT |
25 minLowest 6% below CT |
25 minLowest 6% below CT |
28 minHighest 4% above CT |
| Work from home | 18.4%±4.1 CT: 16% |
20.7%±4.6Highest CT: 16% |
9%±2.8Lowest CT: 16% |
16.2%±4.6 CT: 16% |
| Bolton 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 | #79 of 149 in CT | #128 of 149 in CT | #66 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Suffield School District | Bolton School District | Putnam School District | Somers School District |
| High school in town | Suffield High School | Bolton High School | Putnam High School | Somers High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.9Highest |
7.4Lowest |
9.5 |
7.7 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
CT 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.