Compare towns
Suffield vs Hanson vs Somers 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%).
Hanson has the most expensive homes ($534k median).
Somers has the most affordable homes ($396k 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 | Hanson | Somers | Southwick |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,702Highest |
10,660 |
10,308 |
9,217Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +4.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -2.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±1.7 14% above U.S. |
42.8±3Lowest 10% above U.S. |
43.1±2.6 11% above 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% |
21.6%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±4.8 U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±3 U.S.: 22% |
| Hanson 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% |
19.7%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
21%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Southwick and Hanson 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% |
42.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
35.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hanson 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±$13kLowest 48% above U.S. |
$132,200±$10kHighest 64% above U.S. |
$124,705±$15k 54% above U.S. |
$120,462±$16k 49% above U.S. |
| Hanson and Somers 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. |
$533,900±$36kHighest 60% above U.S. |
$395,800±$21kLowest 19% above U.S. |
$397,500±$27k 19% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,424±$141 about the U.S. average |
$1,821±$860Highest 29% above U.S. |
$1,184±$346Lowest 16% below U.S. |
$1,332±$72 6% below U.S. |
| Hanson 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. |
$6,402 105% above U.S. |
$6,456Highest 107% above U.S. |
$5,331Lowest 71% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
69%±33.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.6%±13.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
51%±10Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hanson and Somers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
89%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest 3% below U.S. |
34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
29 min 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.4%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.2%±4.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.2%±5.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Suffield and Somers 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 | #149 of 282 in MA | #66 of 149 in CT | #211 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Suffield School District | Whitman-Hanson | Somers School District | Southwick-Tolland-Granville Regional School District |
| High school in town | Suffield High School | Whitman Hanson Regional | Somers High School | Southwick Regional School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.9 |
14.7Highest |
7.7Lowest |
11.0 |
| 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.