Compare towns
Bethany vs Bolton vs Willimantic
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 people working from home (20.7%).
Willimantic has the most renters (65.1% rent).
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 | Willimantic |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,288 |
4,853Lowest |
18,096Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | +2.3% CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 42.5±2.9 3% above CT |
43.7±3.3Highest 6% above CT |
31.3±2.7Lowest 24% below CT |
| Bolton and Bethany are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.3%±5.9 CT: 20.2% |
20%±3.6Lowest CT: 20.2% |
20.6%±2.5Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Willimantic and Bethany are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.2%±4.2 CT: 18.5% |
19.7%±3.4Highest CT: 18.5% |
11%±1.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Bolton and Bethany 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% |
24.2%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.8%±3.7Lowest CT: 7.1% |
7.7%±2.6 CT: 7.1% |
19.1%±2.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $166,236±$20kHighest 74% above CT |
$126,364±$19k 32% above CT |
$45,962±$7kLowest 52% below CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $418,000±$42kHighest 14% above CT |
$367,600±$17k about the CT average |
$190,900±$17kLowest 48% below CT |
| Bethany and Bolton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,127±$55Highest 24% below CT |
$1,063±$68Lowest 29% below CT |
| Bolton and Willimantic 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 |
$4,678Lowest 30% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±30.8 CT: 52.6% |
55.9%±8.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Willimantic 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% CT: 10% |
23.4%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
88% CT: 66.5% |
34.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970Highest 3 yrs newer than CT |
1969 2 yrs newer than CT |
1953Lowest 14 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 21% above CT |
25 min 6% below CT |
23 minLowest 12% below CT |
| Work from home | 12%±5.2 CT: 16% |
20.7%±4.6Highest CT: 16% |
6.2%±2Lowest CT: 16% |
| Bolton and Bethany 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 | — |
| School district | Bethany School District · Regional School District 05 | Bolton School District | — |
| High school 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.