Compare towns
Suffield vs Franklin vs Union 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%).
Franklin has the most kids (27.2% under 18).
Union has the most homeowners (92.9%).
Southwick has the most renters (16.6% rent).
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 | Franklin | Union | Southwick |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,702Highest |
2,004 |
944Lowest |
9,217 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | — | -2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±1.7 14% above U.S. |
40.3±4.3Lowest 4% above U.S. |
49.9±4.3Highest 28% above U.S. |
46.8±1.8 20% above U.S. |
| Union and Southwick 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% |
27.2%±5.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±3 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 18.4%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.4%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.5%±2.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Union and Southwick 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% |
27.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
24%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±3.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Union 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. |
$105,000±$10k 30% above U.S. |
$88,958±$14kLowest 10% 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±$26kHighest 22% above U.S. |
$326,200±$20kLowest about the U.S. average |
$330,400±$26k about the U.S. average |
$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 |
$767±$529Lowest 46% below U.S. |
— | $1,332±$72 6% below U.S. |
| Suffield and Southwick 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. |
$3,934Lowest 26% above U.S. |
$4,793 54% above U.S. |
$5,331 71% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51%±4.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
19.5%±18.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
90%±64.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
51%±10 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Union 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% |
8.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest 3% below U.S. |
27 min 3% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
29 min 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.4%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.8%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±3.7 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 | — | — | #211 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Suffield School District | Franklin School District | Union School District | Southwick-Tolland-Granville Regional School District |
| High school in town | Suffield High School | None in town | None in town | Southwick Regional School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.9Lowest |
— | — | 11.0Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.