Compare towns
Bolton vs Chaplin vs Killingly vs Salem
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%).
Chaplin has the most affordable homes ($255k median).
Killingly has the most renters (28.4% rent).
Salem has the most kids (23.2% under 18).
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 | Chaplin | Killingly | Salem |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,853 |
2,070Lowest |
17,867Highest |
4,282 |
| Median age | 43.7±3.3Highest 6% above CT |
43.7±4.8Highest 6% above CT |
39.5±3Lowest 4% below CT |
40.9±5.4 about the CT average |
| Kids under 18 | 20%±3.6 CT: 20.2% |
15.7%±4.2Lowest CT: 20.2% |
19.8%±2.3 CT: 20.2% |
23.2%±5.1Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Salem and Bolton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.7%±3.4Lowest CT: 18.5% |
20.9%±4.4Highest CT: 18.5% |
19.7%±2.4Lowest CT: 18.5% |
19.7%±4.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Chaplin and Bolton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 51.3%Highest CT: 42.5% |
25.4% CT: 42.5% |
22.9%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
50.6% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.7%±2.6 CT: 7.1% |
10.1%±6.2Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.9Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.8%±3.3 CT: 7.1% |
| Chaplin and Bolton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $126,364±$19kHighest 32% above CT |
$97,846±$14k about the CT average |
$84,350±$8kLowest 12% below CT |
$123,245±$8k 29% above CT |
| Bolton and Salem 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 |
$255,200±$24kLowest 30% below CT |
$288,600±$15k 21% below CT |
$403,600±$33kHighest 10% above CT |
| Salem and Bolton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,127±$55 24% below CT |
$1,473±$275Highest about the CT average |
$1,044±$141Lowest 30% below CT |
$1,440±$150 3% below CT |
| Chaplin and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,091Highest 22% above CT |
$4,524 32% below CT |
$3,922Lowest 41% below CT |
$6,668 about the CT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.8%±30.8 CT: 52.6% |
33.6%±27.7 CT: 52.6% |
42.8%±10.9Highest CT: 52.6% |
32.1%±26Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Killingly 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% |
5.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
11.4%Highest CT: 10% |
6.2% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88%Highest CT: 66.5% |
82.9% CT: 66.5% |
71.6%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
86.6% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969 2 yrs newer than CT |
1979 12 yrs newer than CT |
1968Lowest 1 yr newer than CT |
1988Highest 21 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 6% below CT |
32 minHighest 22% above CT |
28 min 5% above CT |
32 min 19% above CT |
| Work from home | 20.7%±4.6Highest CT: 16% |
18.1%±10 CT: 16% |
11.1%±2.3Lowest CT: 16% |
18%±9.6 CT: 16% |
| Bolton and Chaplin 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 | — | #136 of 149 in CT | #11 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Bolton School District | Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Salem School District |
| High school in town | Bolton High School | Parish Hill High School | Killingly High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.4Lowest |
7.5 |
11.1Highest |
— |
| 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.