Compare towns
Suffield vs Salem vs Wolcott
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).
Wolcott has the most affordable homes ($326k 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 | Wolcott |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,702 |
4,282Lowest |
16,279Highest |
| Median age | 44.5±1.7Highest 8% above CT |
40.9±5.4Lowest about the CT average |
44.4±2.5 8% above CT |
| Suffield and Wolcott 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% |
19.4%±3.1 CT: 20.2% |
| Salem and Wolcott 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%±4.7Highest CT: 18.5% |
18.8%±2.8 CT: 18.5% |
| Salem and Wolcott are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40.4% CT: 42.5% |
50.6%Highest CT: 42.5% |
37%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±1.2Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.8%±3.3Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.3%±1.9 CT: 7.1% |
| Salem and Wolcott 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 25% above CT |
$123,245±$8kHighest 29% above CT |
$110,850±$10kLowest 16% above CT |
| Salem and Suffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $407,500±$26kHighest 11% above CT |
$403,600±$33k 10% above CT |
$326,200±$17kLowest 11% below CT |
| 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±$141Lowest 4% below CT |
$1,440±$150 3% below CT |
$1,464±$913Highest about the CT average |
| Wolcott and Salem 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 |
$5,799Lowest 13% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51%±4.6Highest CT: 52.6% |
32.1%±26Lowest CT: 52.6% |
49.8%±24.2 CT: 52.6% |
| Suffield and Wolcott 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% |
1.8%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7% CT: 66.5% |
86.6%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
88.4%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 12 yrs newer than CT |
1988Highest 21 yrs newer than CT |
1976Lowest 9 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest 3% below CT |
32 minHighest 19% above CT |
30 min 13% above CT |
| Work from home | 18.4%±4.1Highest CT: 16% |
18%±9.6 CT: 16% |
11.2%±3.1Lowest 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 | #76 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Suffield School District | Salem School District | Wolcott School District |
| High school in town | Suffield High School | None in town | Wolcott 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.