Compare towns
Suffield vs Sterling vs Windsor Locks 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 most homeowners (86.7%).
Sterling has the most kids (22.8% under 18).
Windsor Locks has the shortest commute (22 min average).
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 | Sterling | Windsor Locks | Southwick |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,702Highest |
3,629Lowest |
12,579 |
9,217 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | +0.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±1.7 14% above U.S. |
39.4±5.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
41.4±2.6 6% 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% |
22.8%±5.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±3 U.S.: 22% |
| Sterling and Windsor Locks 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% |
13%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.7 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
18%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
35.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Windsor Locks 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±$13k 48% above U.S. |
$102,695±$12k 27% above U.S. |
$81,205±$13kLowest about the U.S. average |
$120,462±$16kHighest 49% above U.S. |
| Southwick 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 22% above U.S. |
$283,400±$17k 15% below U.S. |
$258,800±$14kLowest 22% below U.S. |
$397,500±$27k 19% above U.S. |
| Suffield and Southwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,424±$141Highest about the U.S. average |
— | $1,394±$187 about the U.S. average |
$1,332±$72Lowest 6% below U.S. |
| Suffield and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,456Highest 107% above U.S. |
$4,551 46% above U.S. |
$3,688Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$5,331 71% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51%±4.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
32%±18.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
58.2%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
51%±10 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Windsor Locks and Suffield 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% |
8.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
77.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 3% below U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
29 min 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.4%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.6%±6.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.2%±5.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Suffield and Windsor Locks 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 | #119 of 149 in CT | #109 of 149 in CT | #211 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Suffield School District | Sterling 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 | 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.