Compare towns
Bolton vs Killingly vs Manchester vs Suffield
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%).
Manchester has the most renters (43.1% rent).
Suffield has the most expensive homes ($408k median).
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 | Killingly | Manchester | Suffield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,853Lowest |
17,867 |
59,635Highest |
15,702 |
| Median age | 43.7±3.3 6% above CT |
39.5±3 4% below CT |
37±1.2Lowest 10% below CT |
44.5±1.7Highest 8% above CT |
| Suffield 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% |
19.8%±2.3 CT: 20.2% |
20%±1.6Highest CT: 20.2% |
16.2%±2Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Age 65+ | 19.7%±3.4Highest CT: 18.5% |
19.7%±2.4Highest CT: 18.5% |
15.5%±1.2Lowest CT: 18.5% |
18.4%±2.2 CT: 18.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 51.3%Highest CT: 42.5% |
22.9%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
40.5% CT: 42.5% |
40.4% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.7%±2.6Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.9 CT: 7.1% |
5.5%±0.7 CT: 7.1% |
4.4%±1.2Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Bolton and Manchester 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 |
$84,350±$8kLowest 12% below CT |
$86,840±$4k 9% below CT |
$119,472±$13k 25% above CT |
| Bolton and Suffield 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 |
$288,600±$15k 21% below CT |
$247,100±$6kLowest 33% below CT |
$407,500±$26kHighest 11% above CT |
| Suffield 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 |
$1,044±$141Lowest 30% below CT |
$1,519±$66Highest about the CT average |
$1,424±$141 4% below CT |
| Manchester and Suffield 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 |
$3,922Lowest 41% below CT |
$5,652 15% below CT |
$6,456 about the CT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.8%±30.8Lowest CT: 52.6% |
42.8%±10.9 CT: 52.6% |
48.1%±6.1 CT: 52.6% |
51%±4.6Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Suffield and Manchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.2% CT: 10% |
11.4%Highest CT: 10% |
10.8% CT: 10% |
4.6%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88%Highest CT: 66.5% |
71.6% CT: 66.5% |
56.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
86.7% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969 2 yrs newer than CT |
1968 1 yr newer than CT |
1962Lowest 5 yrs older than CT |
1979Highest 12 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 6% below CT |
28 minHighest 5% above CT |
23 minLowest 15% below CT |
26 min 3% below CT |
| Work from home | 20.7%±4.6Highest CT: 16% |
11.1%±2.3Lowest CT: 16% |
14.3%±1.9 CT: 16% |
18.4%±4.1 CT: 16% |
| Bolton and Suffield 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 | #135 of 149 in CT | #57 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Bolton School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Odyssey Community School District | Suffield School District |
| High school in town | Bolton High School | Killingly High School | Manchester High School | Suffield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.4Lowest |
11.1Highest |
11.1Highest |
10.9 |
| 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.