Compare towns

Suffield vs Dedham vs Oxford vs Somers

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 shortest commute (26 min average).
Dedham has the most expensive homes ($662k median).
Oxford has the most homeowners (90.4%).
Somers has the youngest population (median age 43.1).

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.

MeasureSuffieldDedhamOxfordSomers
People
Population
15,702
25,237Highest
12,991
10,308Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+2.6%
U.S.: +7.4%
— —
Median age
44.5±1.7
14% above U.S.
44.6±1.6
15% above U.S.
45.2±5.7Highest
16% above U.S.
43.1±2.6Lowest
11% above U.S.
Oxford and Dedham 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%
18.6%±1.9
U.S.: 22%
21.3%±4.7Highest
U.S.: 22%
21.1%±4.8
U.S.: 22%
Oxford and Somers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
18.4%±2.2Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
21.9%±2
U.S.: 17.2%
22.9%±3.2Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
19.7%±2.3
U.S.: 17.2%
Oxford and Dedham 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%
55%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
46.3%
U.S.: 35.7%
37.2%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.4%±1.2
U.S.: 6.4%
5.6%±1Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.6%±1.4Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.8%±1.4
U.S.: 6.4%
Dedham 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±$13kLowest
48% above U.S.
$128,955±$10kHighest
60% above U.S.
$128,953±$23k
60% above U.S.
$124,705±$15k
54% above U.S.
Dedham and Oxford 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.
$661,800±$16kHighest
99% above U.S.
$472,400±$20k
42% above U.S.
$395,800±$21kLowest
19% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,424±$141
about the U.S. average
$2,042±$182Highest
45% above U.S.
$1,415±$87
about the U.S. average
$1,184±$346Lowest
16% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,456
107% above U.S.
$7,918Highest
154% above U.S.
$6,442Lowest
107% above U.S.
$6,456
107% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
51%±4.6
U.S.: 51.1%
56.4%±10Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
23.3%±15.8Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
51.6%±13.9
U.S.: 51.1%
Dedham and Somers 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%
5.6%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
4%
U.S.: 12.5%
2.7%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
86.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
73.4%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
90.4%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
87.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1979
1 yr older than U.S.
1956Lowest
24 yrs older than U.S.
1986Highest
6 yrs newer than U.S.
1979
1 yr older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
26 minLowest
3% below U.S.
29 min
11% above U.S.
30 minHighest
14% above U.S.
28 min
5% above U.S.
Work from home
18.4%±4.1
U.S.: 15.1%
20%±2.7Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
14.4%±3.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
16.2%±4.6
U.S.: 15.1%
Dedham 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 #119 of 282 in MA #78 of 149 in CT #66 of 149 in CT
School district Suffield School District Dedham Oxford School District Somers School District
High school in town Suffield High School Dedham High Oxford High School Somers High School
Students per teacherat that high school
10.9Highest
10.4
10.1
7.7Lowest
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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.