Compare towns
Andover vs Ashford vs Bolton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Andover has the oldest population (median age 51.2).
Ashford has the youngest population (median age 37.9).
Bolton has the most kids (20% 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.
| Measure | Andover | Ashford | Bolton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,152Lowest |
4,226 |
4,853Highest |
| Median age | 51.2±5.4Highest 25% above CT |
37.9±10.3Lowest 8% below CT |
43.7±3.3 6% above CT |
| Andover and Bolton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.2%±4.4Lowest CT: 20.2% |
18.5%±5.5 CT: 20.2% |
20%±3.6Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Bolton and Ashford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.2%±5.1 CT: 18.5% |
18.9%±3.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
19.7%±3.4Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Bolton and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46.5% CT: 42.5% |
35.3%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
51.3%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.2%±4.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.4%±1.7Lowest CT: 7.1% |
7.7%±2.6 CT: 7.1% |
| Andover and Bolton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $134,632±$20kHighest 41% above CT |
$121,926±$23kLowest 27% above CT |
$126,364±$19k 32% above CT |
| Andover and Bolton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $376,500±$36kHighest about the CT average |
$334,800±$18kLowest 9% below CT |
$367,600±$17k about the CT average |
| Andover and Bolton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,166±$745 22% below CT |
$1,246±$208Highest 16% below CT |
$1,127±$55Lowest 24% below CT |
| Ashford and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,554Lowest about the CT average |
$6,982 5% above CT |
$8,091Highest 22% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60.8%±38.4Highest CT: 52.6% |
47%±26 CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±30.8Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Andover and Ashford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 1.8%Lowest CT: 10% |
5.4% CT: 10% |
7.2%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.1%Highest CT: 66.5% |
76.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
88% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 10 yrs newer than CT |
1982Highest 15 yrs newer than CT |
1969Lowest 2 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 5% below CT |
34 minHighest 30% above CT |
25 minLowest 6% below CT |
| Work from home | 15.5%±5.4Lowest CT: 16% |
19.3%±5.5 CT: 16% |
20.7%±4.6Highest CT: 16% |
| Bolton and Ashford 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 | #43 of 149 in CT | #90 of 149 in CT | #79 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Andover School District | Ashford School District | Bolton School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Bolton High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 7.4 |
| 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.