Compare towns
Bolton vs Killingly vs Plainfield 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 most people working from home (20.7%).
Killingly has the most renters (28.4% rent).
Plainfield has the youngest population (median age 37).
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 | Plainfield | Salem |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,853 |
17,867Highest |
15,141 |
4,282Lowest |
| Median age | 43.7±3.3Highest 6% above CT |
39.5±3 4% below CT |
37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
40.9±5.4 about the CT average |
| Bolton and Salem 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%±2.3 CT: 20.2% |
19.4%±2.6Lowest CT: 20.2% |
23.2%±5.1Highest 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%±3.4Highest CT: 18.5% |
19.7%±2.4Highest CT: 18.5% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest CT: 18.5% |
19.7%±4.7Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 51.3%Highest CT: 42.5% |
22.9% CT: 42.5% |
15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
50.6% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.7%±2.6Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.9Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.8 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±$19kHighest 32% above CT |
$84,350±$8k 12% below CT |
$76,993±$8kLowest 20% below CT |
$123,245±$8k 29% above CT |
| 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 about the CT average |
$288,600±$15k 21% below CT |
$272,100±$16kLowest 26% below CT |
$403,600±$33kHighest 10% above CT |
| Salem 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 |
$1,204±$70 19% below CT |
$1,440±$150Highest 3% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,091Highest 22% above CT |
$3,922Lowest 41% below CT |
$4,209 37% below CT |
$6,668 about the CT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.8%±30.8 CT: 52.6% |
42.8%±10.9Highest CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5 CT: 52.6% |
32.1%±26Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Killingly and Bolton 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% |
8.7% CT: 10% |
6.2%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88%Highest CT: 66.5% |
71.6%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
73.6% CT: 66.5% |
86.6% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969 2 yrs newer than CT |
1968Lowest 1 yr newer than CT |
1971 4 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 |
27 min about the CT average |
32 minHighest 19% above CT |
| Work from home | 20.7%±4.6Highest CT: 16% |
11.1%±2.3 CT: 16% |
10%±4Lowest CT: 16% |
18%±9.6 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 | #136 of 149 in CT | #131 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 | Plainfield School District | Salem School District |
| High school in town | Bolton High School | Killingly High School | Plainfield High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.4Lowest |
11.1Highest |
10.3 |
— |
| 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.