Compare towns
Suffield vs Framingham 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 shortest commute (26 min average).
Framingham has the most expensive homes ($627k 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 | Framingham | Southwick |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,702 |
72,399Highest |
9,217Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +5.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±1.7 14% above U.S. |
37.5±1Lowest 4% below U.S. |
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% |
21.7%±1.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±3 U.S.: 22% |
| Framingham 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% |
15.1%±1.1Lowest 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
48.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.5%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Framingham 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. |
$107,419±$6kLowest 33% above 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. |
$627,300±$10kHighest 89% above U.S. |
$397,500±$27kLowest 19% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,424±$141 about the U.S. average |
$2,033±$57Highest 44% above U.S. |
$1,332±$72Lowest 6% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,456 107% above U.S. |
$6,884Highest 121% above U.S. |
$5,331Lowest 71% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.4%±5.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
51%±10Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Framingham 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% |
10.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
54.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1966Lowest 14 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest 3% below U.S. |
30 minHighest 15% above U.S. |
29 min 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.4%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.6%±2.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.2%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Framingham 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 | #229 of 282 in MA | #211 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Suffield School District | Framingham · South Middlesex Regional Vocational Technical | Southwick-Tolland-Granville Regional School District |
| High school in town | Suffield High School | Framingham High School | Southwick Regional School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.9Lowest |
12.7Highest |
11.0 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.