Compare towns
Bethany vs Bristol vs Bolton
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).
Bristol has the most renters (35.1% rent).
Bolton has the most people working from home (20.7%).
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 | Bristol | Bolton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,288 |
61,462Highest |
4,853Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +0.6% CT: +0.9% |
— |
| Median age | 42.5±2.9 3% above CT |
37.9±1.5Lowest 8% below CT |
43.7±3.3Highest 6% above 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%±5.9Highest CT: 20.2% |
20.1%±1.7 CT: 20.2% |
20%±3.6Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Bethany and Bristol 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% |
16.2%±1.2Lowest CT: 18.5% |
19.7%±3.4Highest 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% |
30.3%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
51.3% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.8%±3.7 CT: 7.1% |
5.9%±0.9Lowest CT: 7.1% |
7.7%±2.6Highest 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 |
$79,076±$6kLowest 17% below CT |
$126,364±$19k 32% above CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $418,000±$42kHighest 14% above CT |
$277,800±$8kLowest 24% below CT |
$367,600±$17k about the CT average |
| Bethany and Bolton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,338±$45Highest 10% below CT |
$1,127±$55Lowest 24% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,313Highest 25% above CT |
$5,449Lowest 18% below CT |
$8,091 22% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest CT: 52.6% |
55.5%±5.9Highest CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±30.8 CT: 52.6% |
| Bristol 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% |
10.7%Highest CT: 10% |
7.2% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
64.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
88% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970Highest 3 yrs newer than CT |
1967Lowest same as CT |
1969 2 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 21% above CT |
24 minLowest 11% below CT |
25 min 6% below CT |
| Work from home | 12%±5.2 CT: 16% |
11.4%±1.7Lowest CT: 16% |
20.7%±4.6Highest 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 | #115 of 149 in CT | #79 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Bethany School District · Regional School District 05 | Bristol School District | Bolton School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Bristol Central High School | Bolton High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.0Highest |
7.4Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.