Compare towns
Bethany vs Middlefield vs Windsor Locks 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).
Middlefield has the oldest population (median age 51.6).
Windsor Locks has the most affordable homes ($259k median).
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 | Middlefield | Windsor Locks | Bolton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,288 |
4,243Lowest |
12,579Highest |
4,853 |
| Median age | 42.5±2.9 3% above CT |
51.6±1.9Highest 26% above CT |
41.4±2.6Lowest about the CT average |
43.7±3.3 6% above CT |
| Kids under 18 | 20.3%±5.9Highest CT: 20.2% |
13.9%±4.1Lowest CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.4 CT: 20.2% |
20%±3.6 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% |
25.5%±7.2Highest CT: 18.5% |
18.2%±2.7 CT: 18.5% |
19.7%±3.4 CT: 18.5% |
| Middlefield and Bolton 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% |
41.5% CT: 42.5% |
28.6%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
51.3% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.8%±3.7 CT: 7.1% |
5.7%±2.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.9%±1.8 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 |
$99,837±$20k 4% above CT |
$81,205±$13kLowest 15% below CT |
$126,364±$19k 32% above CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $418,000±$42kHighest 14% above CT |
$376,000±$27k about the CT average |
$258,800±$14kLowest 29% below CT |
$367,600±$17k about the CT average |
| Bethany and Middlefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $3,501Highest 135% above CT |
$1,394±$187 6% below CT |
$1,127±$55Lowest 24% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,313Highest 25% above CT |
$6,853 3% above CT |
$3,688Lowest 44% below CT |
$8,091 22% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest CT: 52.6% |
85.4%±52.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
58.2%±16.8 CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±30.8 CT: 52.6% |
| Middlefield and Windsor Locks 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% |
8.1% CT: 10% |
10.9%Highest CT: 10% |
7.2% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
86.5% CT: 66.5% |
77.1%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
88% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970Highest 3 yrs newer than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
1969 2 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 21% above CT |
25 min 6% below CT |
22 minLowest 17% below CT |
25 min 6% below CT |
| Work from home | 12%±5.2 CT: 16% |
10.9%±4.1Lowest CT: 16% |
17.7%±3.7 CT: 16% |
20.7%±4.6Highest CT: 16% |
| Bolton and Windsor Locks 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 | #65 of 149 in CT | #109 of 149 in CT | #79 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Bethany School District · Regional School District 05 | Regional School District 13 | Windsor Locks School District | Bolton School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Windsor Locks High School | Bolton High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 8.9Highest |
7.4Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.