Compare towns
Bethany vs Bolton vs Durham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bethany has the highest household income ($166k).
Bolton has the most affordable homes ($368k median).
Durham has the shortest commute (23 min average).
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 | Bethany | Bolton | Durham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,288 |
4,853Lowest |
7,208Highest |
| Median age | 42.5±2.9Lowest 3% above CT |
43.7±3.3 6% above CT |
45.5±2.8Highest 11% above CT |
| Durham and Bolton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.3%±5.9Highest CT: 20.2% |
20%±3.6 CT: 20.2% |
16.4%±3.6Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Bethany and Bolton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.2%±4.2Lowest CT: 18.5% |
19.7%±3.4Highest CT: 18.5% |
17.4%±3.7 CT: 18.5% |
| Bolton and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 58%Highest CT: 42.5% |
51.3% CT: 42.5% |
47.9%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.8%±3.7 CT: 7.1% |
7.7%±2.6Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.6%±1.5Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Bolton and Bethany are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $166,236±$20kHighest 74% above CT |
$126,364±$19kLowest 32% above CT |
$158,857±$7k 66% above CT |
| Bethany and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $418,000±$42k 14% above CT |
$367,600±$17kLowest about the CT average |
$424,800±$23kHighest 16% above CT |
| Durham and Bethany are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,127±$55Lowest 24% below CT |
$1,154±$448Highest 22% below CT |
| Durham and Bolton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,313Highest 25% above CT |
$8,091 22% above CT |
$7,998Lowest 20% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±30.8 CT: 52.6% |
44.9%±28.4Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Durham and Bolton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.3%Lowest CT: 10% |
7.2%Highest CT: 10% |
3.4% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
88%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
93.2% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 3 yrs newer than CT |
1969Lowest 2 yrs newer than CT |
1976Highest 9 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 21% above CT |
25 min 6% below CT |
23 minLowest 13% below CT |
| Work from home | 12%±5.2Lowest CT: 16% |
20.7%±4.6Highest CT: 16% |
20.5%±6.4 CT: 16% |
| Bolton and Durham 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 | #30 of 149 in CT | #79 of 149 in CT | #88 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Bethany School District · Regional School District 05 | Bolton School District | Regional School District 13 |
| High school in town | None in town | Bolton High School | Coginchaug Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 7.4Lowest |
8.9Highest |
| 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.