Compare towns
Bolton vs Brookfield vs Manchester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bolton has the most people working from home (20.7%).
Brookfield has the most expensive homes ($480k median).
Manchester has the most renters (43.1% rent).
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 | Bolton | Brookfield | Manchester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,853Lowest |
17,706 |
59,635Highest |
| Median age | 43.7±3.3 6% above CT |
44.3±1.8Highest 8% above CT |
37±1.2Lowest 10% below CT |
| Brookfield and Bolton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20%±3.6Lowest CT: 20.2% |
22.7%±3Highest CT: 20.2% |
20%±1.6Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Brookfield and Bolton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.7%±3.4Highest CT: 18.5% |
18.8%±2.8 CT: 18.5% |
15.5%±1.2Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Bolton and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 51.3% CT: 42.5% |
58.3%Highest CT: 42.5% |
40.5%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.7%±2.6Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.3%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.5%±0.7 CT: 7.1% |
| Bolton and Manchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $126,364±$19k 32% above CT |
$148,360±$11kHighest 55% above CT |
$86,840±$4kLowest 9% below CT |
| Brookfield and Bolton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $367,600±$17k about the CT average |
$479,700±$24kHighest 31% above CT |
$247,100±$6kLowest 33% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,127±$55Lowest 24% below CT |
$1,892±$183Highest 27% above CT |
$1,519±$66 about the CT average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,091Highest 22% above CT |
$7,594 14% above CT |
$5,652Lowest 15% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.8%±30.8 CT: 52.6% |
35.9%±13.1Lowest CT: 52.6% |
48.1%±6.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Manchester and Bolton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.2% CT: 10% |
4.1%Lowest CT: 10% |
10.8%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88%Highest CT: 66.5% |
86.5% CT: 66.5% |
56.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969 2 yrs newer than CT |
1978Highest 11 yrs newer than CT |
1962Lowest 5 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 6% below CT |
28 minHighest 6% above CT |
23 minLowest 15% below CT |
| Work from home | 20.7%±4.6Highest CT: 16% |
16.3%±3 CT: 16% |
14.3%±1.9Lowest CT: 16% |
| Bolton and Brookfield 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 | #79 of 149 in CT | #67 of 149 in CT | #135 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Bolton School District | Brookfield School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Odyssey Community School District |
| High school in town | Bolton High School | Brookfield High School | Manchester High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.4Lowest |
12.7Highest |
11.1 |
| 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.