What stands out worked out from the figures below

Vernon has the most renters (46.8% rent).

Southwick has the most homeowners (83.4%).

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.

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

Measure	Vernon	Southwick
People
Population	30,577Highest	9,217Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	-2.8% U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	39.4±2.5Lowest about the U.S. average	46.8±1.8Highest 20% above U.S.
Kids under 18	16.9%±2Lowest U.S.: 22%	18.2%±3Highest U.S.: 22%
	Southwick and Vernon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	18.6%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	21%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Southwick and Vernon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	38%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	35.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	7.8%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4%	4.5%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$85,356±$6kLowest 6% above U.S.	$120,462±$16kHighest 49% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$275,500±$11kLowest 17% below U.S.	$397,500±$27kHighest 19% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,425±$77Highest about the U.S. average	$1,332±$72Lowest 6% below U.S.
	Vernon and Southwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,804Highest 86% above U.S.	$5,331Lowest 71% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	39.3%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	51%±10Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Southwick and Vernon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	13.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	53.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	83.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S.	1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minLowest about the U.S. average	29 minHighest 8% above U.S.
Work from home	13.4%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	16.2%±5.1Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Southwick and Vernon 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	#107 of 149 in CT	#211 of 282 in MA
School district	Vernon School District	Southwick-Tolland-Granville Regional School District
High school in town	Rockville High School	Southwick Regional School
Students per teacherat that high school	12.1Highest	11.0Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.