Compare towns
Suffield vs Needham 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).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k 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 | Needham | Southwick |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,702 |
32,459Highest |
9,217Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±1.7 14% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6Lowest 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% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±3 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 18.4%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest 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% |
81.9%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% |
5.4%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Needham 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. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$120,462±$16k 49% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $407,500±$26k 22% above U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$397,500±$27kLowest 19% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,424±$141 about the U.S. average |
$2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
$1,332±$72Lowest 6% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,456 107% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$5,331Lowest 71% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
51%±10Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Needham and Suffield 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% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest 3% below U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
29 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.4%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.2%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #57 of 149 in CT | #19 of 282 in MA | #211 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Suffield School District | Needham | Southwick-Tolland-Granville Regional School District |
| High school in town | Suffield High School | Needham High | Southwick Regional School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.9Lowest |
11.9Highest |
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.