Compare towns
Bolton vs Colebrook 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%).
Colebrook has the oldest population (median age 52.1).
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 | Colebrook | Killingly | Salem |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,853 |
1,494Lowest |
17,867Highest |
4,282 |
| Median age | 43.7±3.3 6% above CT |
52.1±5Highest 27% 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% |
17.9%±3.9Lowest 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% |
26%±4.2Highest CT: 18.5% |
19.7%±2.4Lowest CT: 18.5% |
19.7%±4.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Colebrook 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% |
36.6% CT: 42.5% |
22.9%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
50.6% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.7%±2.6Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.8Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.9Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.8%±3.3 CT: 7.1% |
| Bolton and Salem 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 |
$111,250±$17k 16% above CT |
$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 |
$342,800±$19k 7% below CT |
$288,600±$15kLowest 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 |
$1,333±$626 10% below CT |
$1,044±$141Lowest 30% below CT |
$1,440±$150Highest 3% below CT |
| Salem and Colebrook 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 |
$6,211 7% 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% |
42.1%±55 CT: 52.6% |
42.8%±10.9Highest CT: 52.6% |
32.1%±26Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Killingly and Colebrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.2% CT: 10% |
8.3% CT: 10% |
11.4%Highest CT: 10% |
6.2%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88% CT: 66.5% |
91.6%Highest CT: 66.5% |
71.6%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
86.6% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969 2 yrs newer than CT |
1960Lowest 7 yrs older than CT |
1968 1 yr newer than CT |
1988Highest 21 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 6% below CT |
34 minHighest 29% above CT |
28 min 5% above CT |
32 min 19% above CT |
| Work from home | 20.7%±4.6Highest CT: 16% |
7%±3.8Lowest CT: 16% |
11.1%±2.3 CT: 16% |
18%±9.6 CT: 16% |
| Bolton and Salem 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 | Colebrook School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Salem School District |
| High school in town | Bolton High School | None in town | Killingly High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.4Lowest |
— | 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.