Compare towns
Bethany vs Thomaston 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).
Thomaston has the most kids (20.5% under 18).
Windsor Locks has the shortest commute (22 min average).
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 | Thomaston | Windsor Locks | Bolton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,288 |
7,492 |
12,579Highest |
4,853Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | +0.9% CT: +0.9% |
— |
| Median age | 42.5±2.9 3% above CT |
41.5±7.7 about the CT average |
41.4±2.6Lowest about the CT average |
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%±5.9 CT: 20.2% |
20.5%±5.2Highest CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.4Lowest CT: 20.2% |
20%±3.6 CT: 20.2% |
| Thomaston 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% |
18.6%±3.6 CT: 18.5% |
18.2%±2.7 CT: 18.5% |
19.7%±3.4Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Bolton and Thomaston 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% |
34% 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% |
5.5%±2.1Lowest 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 |
$103,218±$15k 8% above CT |
$81,205±$13kLowest 15% below CT |
$126,364±$19k 32% above CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $418,000±$42kHighest 14% above CT |
$282,600±$23k 23% below CT |
$258,800±$14kLowest 29% 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 | — | $1,037±$147Lowest 30% below CT |
$1,394±$187Highest 6% below CT |
$1,127±$55 24% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,313Highest 25% above CT |
$5,915 11% below CT |
$3,688Lowest 44% below CT |
$8,091 22% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest CT: 52.6% |
57.9%±22 CT: 52.6% |
58.2%±16.8Highest CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±30.8 CT: 52.6% |
| Windsor Locks and Thomaston 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% |
2.3%Lowest CT: 10% |
10.9%Highest CT: 10% |
7.2% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
77.7% 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 |
27 min about the CT average |
22 minLowest 17% below CT |
25 min 6% below CT |
| Work from home | 12%±5.2 CT: 16% |
7.6%±3.7Lowest 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 | #106 of 149 in CT | #109 of 149 in CT | #79 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Bethany School District · Regional School District 05 | Thomaston School District | — | Bolton School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Thomaston High School | — | Bolton High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.7Highest |
— | 7.4Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.