Compare towns
Bolton vs Killingly vs Mansfield vs Manchester
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).
Mansfield has the youngest population (median age 21.2).
Manchester has the most affordable homes ($247k median).
Mansfield is a college town. 57% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Mansfield | Manchester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,853Lowest |
17,867 |
25,358 |
59,635Highest |
| Median age | 43.7±3.3Highest 6% above CT |
39.5±3 4% below CT |
21.2±0.2Lowest 48% below CT |
37±1.2 10% below CT |
| Bolton and Killingly 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% |
9.2%±1.6Lowest CT: 20.2% |
20%±1.6Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Age 65+ | 19.7%±3.4Highest CT: 18.5% |
19.7%±2.4Highest CT: 18.5% |
11%±1.5Lowest CT: 18.5% |
15.5%±1.2 CT: 18.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 51.3% CT: 42.5% |
22.9%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
57.9%Highest CT: 42.5% |
40.5% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.7%±2.6 CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.9Lowest CT: 7.1% |
57%±2.5Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.5%±0.7 CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $126,364±$19kHighest 32% above CT |
$84,350±$8k 12% below CT |
$72,393±$12kLowest 24% below CT |
$86,840±$4k 9% below CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $367,600±$17kHighest about the CT average |
$288,600±$15k 21% below CT |
$335,400±$20k 9% below CT |
$247,100±$6kLowest 33% below CT |
| Bolton and Mansfield 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 |
$1,602±$104Highest 8% above CT |
$1,519±$66 about the CT average |
| Mansfield and Manchester 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 |
$5,727 14% below CT |
$5,652 15% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.8%±30.8Lowest CT: 52.6% |
42.8%±10.9 CT: 52.6% |
76%±9.6Highest CT: 52.6% |
48.1%±6.1 CT: 52.6% |
| Below poverty line | 7.2%Lowest CT: 10% |
11.4% CT: 10% |
21.6%Highest CT: 10% |
10.8% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88%Highest CT: 66.5% |
71.6% CT: 66.5% |
57.3% CT: 66.5% |
56.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969 2 yrs newer than CT |
1968 1 yr newer than CT |
1976Highest 9 yrs newer than CT |
1962Lowest 5 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 6% below CT |
28 minHighest 5% above CT |
21 minLowest 22% below CT |
23 min 15% below CT |
| Work from home | 20.7%±4.6 CT: 16% |
11.1%±2.3Lowest CT: 16% |
28.3%±3.3Highest CT: 16% |
14.3%±1.9 CT: 16% |
| Mansfield 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 | #136 of 149 in CT | #45 of 149 in CT | #135 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Bolton School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Regional School District 19 · Mansfield School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Odyssey Community School District |
| High school in town | Bolton High School | Killingly High School | E. O. Smith High School | Manchester High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.4Lowest |
11.1 |
11.8Highest |
11.1 |
| 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.