Compare towns
Bethany vs Redding vs Pomfret 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 most homeowners (97.2%).
Redding has the most expensive homes ($706k median).
Pomfret has the most kids (23.1% under 18).
Bolton has the most affordable homes ($368k median).
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 | Redding | Pomfret | Bolton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,288 |
8,780Highest |
4,317Lowest |
4,853 |
| Median age | 42.5±2.9Lowest 3% above CT |
52±2Highest 27% above CT |
45.9±3.7 12% above CT |
43.7±3.3 6% above CT |
| Kids under 18 | 20.3%±5.9 CT: 20.2% |
19.1%±2.8Lowest CT: 20.2% |
23.1%±4.9Highest CT: 20.2% |
20%±3.6 CT: 20.2% |
| Pomfret and Bethany 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% |
26.4%±3.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
17.8%±4.5 CT: 18.5% |
19.7%±3.4 CT: 18.5% |
| Redding 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% CT: 42.5% |
72.1%Highest CT: 42.5% |
50.8%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
51.3% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.8%±3.7 CT: 7.1% |
3.8%±1.8Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.9 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±$20k 74% above CT |
$186,060±$15kHighest 94% above CT |
$108,476±$8kLowest 13% above CT |
$126,364±$19k 32% above CT |
| Redding and Bethany 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 |
$706,300±$33kHighest 93% above CT |
$409,100±$28k 12% above CT |
$367,600±$17kLowest about the CT average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $2,101±$304Highest 41% above CT |
$1,210±$300 19% below CT |
$1,127±$55Lowest 24% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,313 25% above CT |
$10,000+Highest at least 51% above CT |
$5,903Lowest 11% below CT |
$8,091 22% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest CT: 52.6% |
64.9%±19.3Highest CT: 52.6% |
61.9%±15.3 CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±30.8 CT: 52.6% |
| Redding and Pomfret 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% |
4% CT: 10% |
6% CT: 10% |
7.2%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
91.6% CT: 66.5% |
80.5%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
88% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 3 yrs newer than CT |
1972 5 yrs newer than CT |
1978Highest 11 yrs newer than CT |
1969Lowest 2 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 21% above CT |
36 minHighest 36% above CT |
24 minLowest 11% below CT |
25 min 6% below CT |
| Work from home | 12%±5.2Lowest CT: 16% |
32.5%±4.9Highest CT: 16% |
13.2%±5.2 CT: 16% |
20.7%±4.6 CT: 16% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #30 of 149 in CT | #14 of 149 in CT | #39 of 149 in CT | #79 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Bethany School District · Regional School District 05 | Redding School District · Regional School District 09 | Pomfret School District | Bolton School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Joel Barlow High School | None in town | Bolton High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1Highest |
— | 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.