What stands out worked out from the figures below

Suffield has the most people working from home (18.4%).

Waterford has the most kids (19.1% under 18).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Suffield	Waterford
People
Population	15,702Lowest	19,673Highest
Median age	44.5±1.7Lowest 8% above CT	46±2.4Highest 12% above CT
	Waterford 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%	19.1%±2.5Highest CT: 20.2%
	Waterford and Suffield 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%	22.6%±2.1Highest CT: 18.5%
	Waterford 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%Lowest CT: 42.5%	40.6%Highest CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.4%±1.2Lowest CT: 7.1%	5.6%±1.5Highest CT: 7.1%
	Waterford 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±$13kHighest 25% above CT	$104,820±$9kLowest 9% above CT
	Suffield and Waterford 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	$355,900±$14kLowest about the CT average
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,424±$141Lowest 4% below CT	$1,651±$153Highest 11% above CT
	Waterford and Suffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,456Highest about the CT average	$4,876Lowest 27% below CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	51%±4.6Highest CT: 52.6%	44.4%±12Lowest CT: 52.6%
	Suffield and Waterford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.6% CT: 10%	4.6% CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	86.7%Highest CT: 66.5%	79.7%Lowest CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1979Highest 12 yrs newer than CT	1968Lowest 1 yr newer than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minHighest 3% below CT	22 minLowest 18% below CT
Work from home	18.4%±4.1Highest CT: 16%	10.2%±2.2Lowest CT: 16%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#57 of 149 in CT	#80 of 149 in CT
School district	Suffield School District	Learn · Waterford School District
High school in town	Suffield High School	Waterford High School
Students per teacherat that high school	10.9Lowest	11.1Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.