Compare towns
Bolton vs Hampton vs Salem 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%).
Hampton has the most affordable homes ($296k median).
Salem has the most kids (23.2% under 18).
Andover has the highest household income ($135k).
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 | Hampton | Salem | Andover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,853Highest |
1,647Lowest |
4,282 |
3,152 |
| Median age | 43.7±3.3 6% above CT |
51.5±5.3Highest 25% above CT |
40.9±5.4Lowest about the CT average |
51.2±5.4 25% above CT |
| Hampton and Andover 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% |
19.7%±5.3 CT: 20.2% |
23.2%±5.1Highest CT: 20.2% |
16.2%±4.4Lowest 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% |
26.1%±2.1Highest CT: 18.5% |
19.7%±4.7 CT: 18.5% |
19.2%±5.1Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 51.3%Highest CT: 42.5% |
29.9%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
50.6% CT: 42.5% |
46.5% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.7%±2.6 CT: 7.1% |
1.9%±1.1Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.8%±3.3 CT: 7.1% |
8.2%±4.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Andover 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±$19k 32% above CT |
$109,167±$19kLowest 14% above CT |
$123,245±$8k 29% above 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 |
$295,800±$27kLowest 19% below CT |
$403,600±$33kHighest 10% above CT |
$376,500±$36k about the CT average |
| Salem and Andover 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 |
$1,285±$288 14% below CT |
$1,440±$150Highest 3% below CT |
$1,166±$745 22% below CT |
| Salem and Hampton 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 |
$4,364Lowest 34% below CT |
$6,668 about the CT average |
$6,554 about the CT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.8%±30.8 CT: 52.6% |
52.5%±51.5 CT: 52.6% |
32.1%±26Lowest CT: 52.6% |
60.8%±38.4Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Andover and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.2%Highest CT: 10% |
5.7% CT: 10% |
6.2% CT: 10% |
1.8%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88% CT: 66.5% |
90% CT: 66.5% |
86.6%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
93.1%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Lowest 2 yrs newer than CT |
1980 13 yrs newer than CT |
1988Highest 21 yrs newer than CT |
1977 10 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 6% below CT |
29 min 9% above CT |
32 minHighest 19% above CT |
25 min 5% below CT |
| Work from home | 20.7%±4.6Highest CT: 16% |
17.7%±5.1 CT: 16% |
18%±9.6 CT: 16% |
15.5%±5.4Lowest 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 | — | #11 of 149 in CT | #43 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Bolton School District | Hampton School District | Salem School District | Andover School District |
| High school in town | Bolton High School | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.4 |
— | — | — |
| 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.