Compare towns
Bolton vs Hamden vs Marlborough
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 oldest population (median age 43.7).
Hamden has the most renters (37.6% rent).
Marlborough has the most people working from home (33.2%).
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 | Hamden | Marlborough |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,853Lowest |
61,045Highest |
6,130 |
| Median age | 43.7±3.3Highest 6% above CT |
38.7±0.9Lowest 6% below CT |
41.8±4.7 about the CT average |
| Bolton and Marlborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20%±3.6 CT: 20.2% |
17%±1.5Lowest CT: 20.2% |
23.6%±5.2Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Marlborough 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% |
18.1%±1.3 CT: 18.5% |
16.3%±3.5Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Bolton and Hamden 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% |
47.8% CT: 42.5% |
45.9%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.7%±2.6 CT: 7.1% |
15%±1.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.1%±2.6Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $126,364±$19k 32% above CT |
$98,306±$7kLowest about the CT average |
$142,105±$35kHighest 48% above CT |
| Marlborough 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 |
$298,200±$9kLowest 19% below CT |
$379,100±$33kHighest 3% above CT |
| Marlborough 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 |
$1,746±$50Highest 17% above CT |
$1,333±$438 10% below CT |
| Hamden and Marlborough 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 |
$7,784 17% above CT |
$7,397Lowest 11% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.8%±30.8Lowest CT: 52.6% |
50.9%±5.4 CT: 52.6% |
59.2%±36Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Marlborough and Hamden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.2%Lowest CT: 10% |
9.3% CT: 10% |
9.7%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88% CT: 66.5% |
62.4%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
92.6%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969 2 yrs newer than CT |
1964Lowest 3 yrs older than CT |
1977Highest 10 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 6% below CT |
22 minLowest 18% below CT |
34 minHighest 29% above CT |
| Work from home | 20.7%±4.6 CT: 16% |
16.3%±2.1Lowest CT: 16% |
33.2%±8.9Highest CT: 16% |
| Marlborough and Bolton 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 | #122 of 149 in CT | #52 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Bolton School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Area Cooperative Educational Services | Marlborough School District |
| High school in town | Bolton High School | Hamden High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.4Lowest |
13.5Highest |
— |
| 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.