Compare towns
Suffield vs Walpole vs Reading vs Oxford
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).
Walpole has the most kids (25.1% under 18).
Reading has the most expensive homes ($809k median).
Oxford has the most homeowners (90.4%).
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 | Walpole | Reading | Oxford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,702 |
26,388Highest |
25,612 |
12,991Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +9.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 44.5±1.7 14% above U.S. |
40.9±1.2Lowest 5% above U.S. |
43.7±2.3 12% above U.S. |
45.2±5.7Highest 16% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
25.1%±2.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
22.8%±2.2 U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Walpole and Reading 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% |
16.9%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.9%±3.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Oxford and Reading 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
67.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
66.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
46.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Walpole 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 48% above U.S. |
$171,500±$16kHighest 112% above U.S. |
$165,912±$13k 106% above U.S. |
$128,953±$23k 60% above U.S. |
| Walpole and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $407,500±$26kLowest 22% above U.S. |
$687,100±$20k 107% above U.S. |
$809,000±$22kHighest 143% above U.S. |
$472,400±$20k 42% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,424±$141 about the U.S. average |
$2,205±$222Highest 56% above U.S. |
$1,991±$273 41% above U.S. |
$1,415±$87Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Walpole and Reading 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. |
$8,523 173% above U.S. |
$9,320Highest 199% above U.S. |
$6,442Lowest 107% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51%±4.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.8%±9.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
27.8%±9.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
23.3%±15.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Suffield and Walpole 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% |
3.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1960Lowest 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest 3% below U.S. |
34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
30 min 14% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.4%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
28.2%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
30.2%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.4%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Reading and Walpole 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 | #107 of 282 in MA | #50 of 282 in MA | #78 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Suffield School District | Norfolk County Agricultural · Walpole | Reading | Oxford School District |
| High school in town | Suffield High School | Walpole High | Reading Memorial High | Oxford High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.9 |
11.3 |
12.1Highest |
10.1Lowest |
| 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.