Compare towns
Bolton vs Killingly vs Millbury vs Salem
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bolton has the most people working from home (20.7%).
Killingly has the most affordable homes ($289k median).
Millbury has the most expensive homes ($450k median).
Salem has the most kids (23.2% under 18).
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 | Millbury | Salem |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,853 |
17,867Highest |
13,961 |
4,282Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | +4.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 43.7±3.3Highest 12% above U.S. |
39.5±3Lowest about the U.S. average |
42.6±3.1 10% above U.S. |
40.9±5.4 5% above U.S. |
| Bolton and Millbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±3 U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Salem and Millbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.7%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.2%±2.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Millbury and Bolton 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
22.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
50.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.7%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±3.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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±$19kHighest 57% above U.S. |
$84,350±$8kLowest 4% above U.S. |
$118,790±$13k 47% above U.S. |
$123,245±$8k 53% above U.S. |
| Bolton and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $367,600±$17k 10% above U.S. |
$288,600±$15kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$450,100±$19kHighest 35% above U.S. |
$403,600±$33k 21% above U.S. |
| Millbury and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,127±$55 20% below U.S. |
$1,044±$141Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$1,623±$232Highest 15% above U.S. |
$1,440±$150 about the U.S. average |
| Millbury and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,091Highest 159% above U.S. |
$3,922Lowest 26% above U.S. |
$5,406 73% above U.S. |
$6,668 114% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.8%±30.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
42.8%±10.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
43.5%±12.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
32.1%±26Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Millbury and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
29 min 9% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 19% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.7%±4.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.8%±3.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
18%±9.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #136 of 149 in CT | #202 of 282 in MA | #11 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Bolton School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Millbury | Salem School District |
| High school in town | Bolton High School | Killingly High School | Millbury Junior/Senior High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.4Lowest |
11.1 |
11.3Highest |
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| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.