Compare towns

Suffield vs Buzzards Bay vs Windsor Locks 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 homeowners (86.7%).
Buzzards Bay has the oldest population (median age 54.4).
Windsor Locks has the most affordable homes ($259k 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.

MeasureSuffieldBuzzards BayWindsor LocksSouthwick
People
Population
15,702Highest
2,909Lowest
12,579
9,217
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+10.9%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
—
-2.8%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
44.5±1.7
14% above U.S.
54.4±5.9Highest
40% above U.S.
41.4±2.6Lowest
6% above U.S.
46.8±1.8
20% above U.S.
Buzzards Bay and Southwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
16.2%±2
U.S.: 22%
6.7%±2.9Lowest
U.S.: 22%
18.6%±3.4Highest
U.S.: 22%
18.2%±3
U.S.: 22%
Windsor Locks 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%
32.3%±5.2Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
18.2%±2.7Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
21%±3.4
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
40.4%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
29.6%
U.S.: 35.7%
28.6%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
35.1%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.4%±1.2Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
8.9%±1.4Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.9%±1.8
U.S.: 6.4%
4.5%±1.7
U.S.: 6.4%
Buzzards Bay and Windsor Locks 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.
$94,388±$12k
17% above U.S.
$81,205±$13kLowest
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±$26k
22% above U.S.
$454,500±$28kHighest
37% above U.S.
$258,800±$14kLowest
22% below U.S.
$397,500±$27k
19% above U.S.
Buzzards Bay and Suffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,424±$141
about the U.S. average
$1,484±$601Highest
5% above U.S.
$1,394±$187
about the U.S. average
$1,332±$72Lowest
6% below U.S.
Buzzards Bay and Suffield 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.
$3,405Lowest
9% above U.S.
$3,688
18% above U.S.
$5,331
71% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
51%±4.6
U.S.: 51.1%
37.9%±20.3Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
58.2%±16.8Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
51%±10
U.S.: 51.1%
Windsor Locks 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%
7.3%
U.S.: 12.5%
10.9%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
86.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
75.7%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
77.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
83.4%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1979Highest
1 yr older than U.S.
1956Lowest
24 yrs older than U.S.
1961
19 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.
22 minLowest
17% below U.S.
29 min
8% above U.S.
Work from home
18.4%±4.1Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
17.4%±6.3
U.S.: 15.1%
17.7%±3.7
U.S.: 15.1%
16.2%±5.1Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Suffield and Windsor Locks 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 — #109 of 149 in CT #211 of 282 in MA
School district Suffield School District — Windsor Locks School District Southwick-Tolland-Granville Regional School District
High school in town Suffield High School — Windsor Locks High School Southwick Regional School
Students per teacherat that high school
10.9
—
8.9Lowest
11.0Highest
On TownTapestry
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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.