Compare towns
Bolton vs Hamden vs Plainfield vs Andover
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%).
Hamden has the most renters (37.6% rent).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Andover has the oldest population (median age 51.2).
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 | Plainfield | Andover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,853 |
61,045Highest |
15,141 |
3,152Lowest |
| Median age | 43.7±3.3 6% above CT |
38.7±0.9 6% below CT |
37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
51.2±5.4Highest 25% above CT |
| Andover and Bolton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20%±3.6Highest CT: 20.2% |
17%±1.5 CT: 20.2% |
19.4%±2.6 CT: 20.2% |
16.2%±4.4Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Bolton and Plainfield 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% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest CT: 18.5% |
19.2%±5.1 CT: 18.5% |
| Bolton and Andover 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% |
15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
46.5% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.7%±2.6 CT: 7.1% |
15%±1.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.8Lowest CT: 7.1% |
8.2%±4.1 CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $126,364±$19k 32% above CT |
$98,306±$7k about the CT average |
$76,993±$8kLowest 20% below CT |
$134,632±$20kHighest 41% above CT |
| Andover 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±$9k 19% below CT |
$272,100±$16kLowest 26% below CT |
$376,500±$36kHighest about the CT average |
| Andover 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 |
$1,204±$70 19% below CT |
$1,166±$745 22% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,091Highest 22% above CT |
$7,784 17% above CT |
$4,209Lowest 37% below CT |
$6,554 about the CT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.8%±30.8Lowest CT: 52.6% |
50.9%±5.4 CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5Lowest CT: 52.6% |
60.8%±38.4Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Andover and Hamden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.2% CT: 10% |
9.3%Highest CT: 10% |
8.7% CT: 10% |
1.8%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88% CT: 66.5% |
62.4%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
73.6% CT: 66.5% |
93.1%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969 2 yrs newer than CT |
1964Lowest 3 yrs older than CT |
1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
1977Highest 10 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 6% below CT |
22 minLowest 18% below CT |
27 minHighest about the CT average |
25 min 5% below CT |
| Work from home | 20.7%±4.6Highest CT: 16% |
16.3%±2.1 CT: 16% |
10%±4Lowest CT: 16% |
15.5%±5.4 CT: 16% |
| Bolton and Hamden 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 | #131 of 149 in CT | #43 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Bolton School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Area Cooperative Educational Services | Plainfield School District | Andover School District |
| High school in town | Bolton High School | Hamden High School | Plainfield High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.4Lowest |
13.5Highest |
10.3 |
— |
| 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.