Compare towns
Suffield vs Bristol 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%).
Bristol has the most affordable homes ($278k 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 | Bristol | Southwick |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,702 |
61,462Highest |
9,217Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +0.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±1.7 14% above U.S. |
37.9±1.5Lowest 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% |
20.1%±1.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±3 U.S.: 22% |
| Bristol 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% |
16.2%±1.2Lowest 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±0.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Bristol 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. |
$79,076±$6kLowest about the U.S. average |
$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±$26kHighest 22% above U.S. |
$277,800±$8kLowest 17% below U.S. |
$397,500±$27k 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 |
$1,338±$45 5% below U.S. |
$1,332±$72Lowest 6% below U.S. |
| Suffield and Bristol 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. |
$5,449 75% above U.S. |
$5,331Lowest 71% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.5%±5.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
51%±10Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Bristol 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% |
4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
64.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 3% below U.S. |
24 minLowest 10% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.4%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.4%±1.7Lowest 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 | #115 of 149 in CT | #211 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Suffield School District | Bristol School District | Southwick-Tolland-Granville Regional School District |
| High school in town | Suffield High School | Bristol Central High School | Southwick Regional School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.9Lowest |
14.0Highest |
11.0 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.