Compare towns
Suffield vs Salem 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).
Salem has the most kids (23.2% under 18).
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 | Salem | Southwick |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,702Highest |
4,282Lowest |
9,217 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | -2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±1.7 14% above U.S. |
40.9±5.4Lowest 5% 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% |
23.2%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±3 U.S.: 22% |
| Salem and Southwick 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%±4.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
21%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Southwick 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
50.6%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% |
5.8%±3.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Salem 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. |
$123,245±$8kHighest 53% above U.S. |
$120,462±$16k 49% above U.S. |
| Salem and Southwick 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. |
$403,600±$33k 21% above U.S. |
$397,500±$27kLowest 19% above U.S. |
| Suffield and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,424±$141 about the U.S. average |
$1,440±$150Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,332±$72Lowest 6% below U.S. |
| Salem and Suffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,456 107% above U.S. |
$6,668Highest 114% above U.S. |
$5,331Lowest 71% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51%±4.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
32.1%±26Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
51%±10Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 4.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest 3% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 19% above U.S. |
29 min 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.4%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18%±9.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.2%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #211 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Suffield School District | Salem School District | Southwick-Tolland-Granville Regional School District |
| High school in town | Suffield High School | 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 |
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.