Compare towns
Bolton vs Chaplin vs Plainfield 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).
Plainfield has the most renters (26.4% 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 | Plainfield | Salem |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,853 |
2,070Lowest |
15,141Highest |
4,282 |
| Median age | 43.7±3.3Highest 6% above CT |
43.7±4.8Highest 6% above CT |
37±4.5Lowest 10% 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% |
19.4%±2.6 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%±3.4 CT: 18.5% |
20.9%±4.4Highest CT: 18.5% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest CT: 18.5% |
19.7%±4.7 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% |
15%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% |
5.6%±1.8Lowest 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 |
$76,993±$8kLowest 20% 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 |
$272,100±$16k 26% 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±$55Lowest 24% below CT |
$1,473±$275Highest about the CT average |
$1,204±$70 19% 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 |
$4,209Lowest 37% below CT |
$6,668 about the CT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.8%±30.8Highest CT: 52.6% |
33.6%±27.7 CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5Highest CT: 52.6% |
32.1%±26Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Below poverty line | 7.2% CT: 10% |
5.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
8.7%Highest CT: 10% |
6.2% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88%Highest CT: 66.5% |
82.9% CT: 66.5% |
73.6%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
86.6% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Lowest 2 yrs newer than CT |
1979 12 yrs newer than CT |
1971 4 yrs 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 |
27 min about the CT average |
32 min 19% above CT |
| Work from home | 20.7%±4.6Highest CT: 16% |
18.1%±10 CT: 16% |
10%±4Lowest 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 | — | #131 of 149 in CT | #11 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Bolton School District | Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 | Plainfield School District | Salem School District |
| High school in town | Bolton High School | Parish Hill High School | Plainfield High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.4Lowest |
7.5 |
10.3Highest |
— |
| 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.