Compare towns
Suffield vs Melrose vs Windsor Locks 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 oldest population (median age 44.5).
Melrose has the most expensive homes ($823k median).
Windsor Locks has the most affordable homes ($259k median).
Somers has the most kids (21.1% under 18).
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 | Melrose | Windsor Locks | Somers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,702 |
29,650Highest |
12,579 |
10,308Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +10.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 44.5±1.7Highest 14% above U.S. |
43.6±1.1 12% above U.S. |
41.4±2.6Lowest 6% above U.S. |
43.1±2.6 11% above U.S. |
| Suffield and Melrose 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% |
20.2%±2.1 U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±4.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Somers and Melrose 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% |
20.6%±2.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Melrose and Somers 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% |
62%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Windsor Locks and Melrose 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. |
$133,953±$14kHighest 66% above U.S. |
$81,205±$13kLowest about the U.S. average |
$124,705±$15k 54% above U.S. |
| Melrose 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. |
$822,900±$20kHighest 147% above U.S. |
$258,800±$14kLowest 22% below U.S. |
$395,800±$21k 19% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,424±$141 about the U.S. average |
$1,970±$149Highest 39% above U.S. |
$1,394±$187 about the U.S. average |
$1,184±$346Lowest 16% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,456 107% above U.S. |
$7,578Highest 143% above U.S. |
$3,688Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$6,456 107% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51%±4.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.3%±8.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
58.2%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.6%±13.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Windsor Locks 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% |
3.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
67.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1961 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 3% below U.S. |
35 minHighest 31% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.4%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
29.6%±2.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.2%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #57 of 149 in CT | #62 of 282 in MA | #109 of 149 in CT | #66 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Suffield School District | Melrose | Windsor Locks School District | Somers School District |
| High school in town | Suffield High School | Melrose High | Windsor Locks High School | Somers High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.9 |
12.8Highest |
8.9 |
7.7Lowest |
| 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.