Compare towns
Bethany vs Middletown 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).
Middletown has the most renters (47.1% 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 | Middletown | Bolton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,288 |
47,958Highest |
4,853Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +0.1% CT: +0.9% |
— |
| Median age | 42.5±2.9 3% above CT |
38.1±1.5Lowest 7% 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% |
14.3%±1.3Lowest 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%±4.2 CT: 18.5% |
16.5%±1.3Lowest 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% |
40.2%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
51.3% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.8%±3.7Lowest CT: 7.1% |
15.5%±1.4Highest CT: 7.1% |
7.7%±2.6 CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $166,236±$20kHighest 74% above CT |
$79,438±$6kLowest 17% below CT |
$126,364±$19k 32% above CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $418,000±$42kHighest 14% above CT |
$295,300±$11kLowest 20% 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 | — | $1,446±$45Highest about the CT average |
$1,127±$55Lowest 24% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,313Highest 25% above CT |
$6,412Lowest 3% below CT |
$8,091 22% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest CT: 52.6% |
47.7%±5.3Highest CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±30.8 CT: 52.6% |
| Middletown 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% |
12%Highest CT: 10% |
7.2% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
52.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
88% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 3 yrs newer than CT |
1972Highest 5 yrs newer than CT |
1969Lowest 2 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 21% above CT |
23 minLowest 12% below CT |
25 min 6% below CT |
| Work from home | 12%±5.2Lowest CT: 16% |
14.1%±1.8 CT: 16% |
20.7%±4.6Highest CT: 16% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #30 of 149 in CT | #121 of 149 in CT | #79 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Bethany School District · Regional School District 05 | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services | Bolton School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Middletown High School | Bolton High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.8Highest |
7.4Lowest |
| 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.