Compare towns
Suffield vs Salem vs Oxford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Suffield has the shortest commute (26 min average).
Salem has the most kids (23.2% under 18).
Oxford has the most expensive homes ($472k median).
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 | Salem | Oxford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,702Highest |
4,282Lowest |
12,991 |
| Median age | 44.5±1.7 8% above CT |
40.9±5.4Lowest about the CT average |
45.2±5.7Highest 10% above CT |
| Oxford 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 CT: 20.2% |
23.2%±5.1Highest CT: 20.2% |
21.3%±4.7 CT: 20.2% |
| Salem and Oxford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.4%±2.2Lowest CT: 18.5% |
19.7%±4.7 CT: 18.5% |
22.9%±3.2Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Oxford and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40.4%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
50.6%Highest CT: 42.5% |
46.3% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±1.2 CT: 7.1% |
5.8%±3.3Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.6%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Salem and Suffield 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 25% above CT |
$123,245±$8k 29% above CT |
$128,953±$23kHighest 35% above CT |
| Oxford and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $407,500±$26k 11% above CT |
$403,600±$33kLowest 10% above CT |
$472,400±$20kHighest 29% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,424±$141 4% below CT |
$1,440±$150Highest 3% below CT |
$1,415±$87Lowest 5% below CT |
| Salem and Suffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,456 about the CT average |
$6,668Highest about the CT average |
$6,442Lowest 3% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51%±4.6Highest CT: 52.6% |
32.1%±26 CT: 52.6% |
23.3%±15.8Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Suffield and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.6% CT: 10% |
6.2%Highest CT: 10% |
4%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7% CT: 66.5% |
86.6%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
90.4%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest 12 yrs newer than CT |
1988Highest 21 yrs newer than CT |
1986 19 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest 3% below CT |
32 minHighest 19% above CT |
30 min 14% above CT |
| Work from home | 18.4%±4.1Highest CT: 16% |
18%±9.6 CT: 16% |
14.4%±3.7Lowest CT: 16% |
| Suffield and Salem 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 | #11 of 149 in CT | #78 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Suffield School District | Salem School District | Oxford School District |
| High school in town | Suffield High School | None in town | Oxford High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.9Highest |
— | 10.1Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
CT 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.