Compare towns
Bolton vs Killingly vs Marlborough vs Salem
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 shortest commute (25 min average).
Killingly has the most affordable homes ($289k median).
Marlborough has the most people working from home (33.2%).
Salem has the most expensive homes ($404k 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 | Marlborough | Salem |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,853 |
17,867Highest |
6,130 |
4,282Lowest |
| Median age | 43.7±3.3Highest 6% above CT |
39.5±3Lowest 4% below CT |
41.8±4.7 about the CT average |
40.9±5.4 about the CT average |
| Bolton and Marlborough 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% |
19.8%±2.3Lowest CT: 20.2% |
23.6%±5.2Highest CT: 20.2% |
23.2%±5.1 CT: 20.2% |
| Marlborough and Salem 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% |
19.7%±2.4Highest CT: 18.5% |
16.3%±3.5Lowest CT: 18.5% |
19.7%±4.7Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 51.3%Highest CT: 42.5% |
22.9%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
45.9% CT: 42.5% |
50.6% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.7%±2.6Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.9 CT: 7.1% |
5.1%±2.6Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.8%±3.3 CT: 7.1% |
| Bolton and Salem 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 |
$84,350±$8kLowest 12% below CT |
$142,105±$35kHighest 48% above CT |
$123,245±$8k 29% above CT |
| Marlborough 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 |
$288,600±$15kLowest 21% below CT |
$379,100±$33k 3% above CT |
$403,600±$33kHighest 10% above CT |
| Salem and Marlborough 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 |
$1,333±$438 10% below CT |
$1,440±$150Highest 3% below CT |
| Salem and Marlborough 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 |
$7,397 11% above CT |
$6,668 about the CT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.8%±30.8 CT: 52.6% |
42.8%±10.9 CT: 52.6% |
59.2%±36Highest CT: 52.6% |
32.1%±26Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Marlborough and Killingly 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% |
9.7% CT: 10% |
6.2%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88% CT: 66.5% |
71.6%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
92.6%Highest CT: 66.5% |
86.6% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969 2 yrs newer than CT |
1968Lowest 1 yr newer than CT |
1977 10 yrs newer than CT |
1988Highest 21 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 6% below CT |
28 min 5% above CT |
34 minHighest 29% above CT |
32 min 19% above CT |
| Work from home | 20.7%±4.6 CT: 16% |
11.1%±2.3Lowest CT: 16% |
33.2%±8.9Highest CT: 16% |
18%±9.6 CT: 16% |
| Marlborough 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 | #52 of 149 in CT | #11 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Bolton School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Marlborough School District | Salem School District |
| High school in town | Bolton High School | Killingly High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.4Lowest |
11.1Highest |
— | — |
| 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.