Compare towns
Bolton vs Hamden vs Windsor Locks vs Vernon
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 highest household income ($126k).
Hamden has the youngest population (median age 38.7).
Windsor Locks has the most affordable homes ($259k median).
Vernon has the most renters (46.8% rent).
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 | Windsor Locks | Vernon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,853Lowest |
61,045Highest |
12,579 |
30,577 |
| Median age | 43.7±3.3Highest 6% above CT |
38.7±0.9Lowest 6% below CT |
41.4±2.6 about the CT average |
39.4±2.5 4% below CT |
| Bolton and Windsor Locks 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% |
18.6%±3.4 CT: 20.2% |
16.9%±2Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Bolton and Windsor Locks 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%±1.3Lowest CT: 18.5% |
18.2%±2.7 CT: 18.5% |
18.6%±1.7 CT: 18.5% |
| Bolton and Vernon 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% |
28.6%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
38% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.7%±2.6 CT: 7.1% |
15%±1.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.9%±1.8Lowest CT: 7.1% |
7.8%±1.2 CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $126,364±$19kHighest 32% above CT |
$98,306±$7k about the CT average |
$81,205±$13kLowest 15% below CT |
$85,356±$6k 11% below CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $367,600±$17kHighest about the CT average |
$298,200±$9k 19% below CT |
$258,800±$14kLowest 29% below CT |
$275,500±$11k 25% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,127±$55Lowest 24% below CT |
$1,746±$50Highest 17% above CT |
$1,394±$187 6% below CT |
$1,425±$77 4% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,091Highest 22% above CT |
$7,784 17% above CT |
$3,688Lowest 44% below CT |
$5,804 13% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.8%±30.8 CT: 52.6% |
50.9%±5.4 CT: 52.6% |
58.2%±16.8Highest CT: 52.6% |
39.3%±5.7Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Windsor Locks 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% |
10.9% CT: 10% |
13.4%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88%Highest CT: 66.5% |
62.4% CT: 66.5% |
77.1% CT: 66.5% |
53.2%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Highest 2 yrs newer than CT |
1964 3 yrs older than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
1968 1 yr newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 6% below CT |
22 minLowest 18% below CT |
22 min 17% below CT |
27 minHighest about the CT average |
| Work from home | 20.7%±4.6Highest CT: 16% |
16.3%±2.1 CT: 16% |
17.7%±3.7 CT: 16% |
13.4%±2.5Lowest CT: 16% |
| Bolton and Windsor Locks 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 | #109 of 149 in CT | #107 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Bolton School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Area Cooperative Educational Services | Windsor Locks School District | Vernon School District |
| High school in town | Bolton High School | Hamden High School | Windsor Locks High School | Rockville High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.4Lowest |
13.5Highest |
8.9 |
12.1 |
| 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.