Compare towns
Bolton vs Killingly vs Plainville 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).
Plainville has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Manchester has the most renters (43.1% rent).
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 | Plainville | Manchester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,853Lowest |
17,867 |
17,551 |
59,635Highest |
| Median age | 43.7±3.3 6% above CT |
39.5±3 4% below CT |
44.3±1.5Highest 8% above CT |
37±1.2Lowest 10% below CT |
| Plainville 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% |
15.6%±2.3Lowest CT: 20.2% |
20%±1.6Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Age 65+ | 19.7%±3.4 CT: 18.5% |
19.7%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
20.1%±2.8Highest CT: 18.5% |
15.5%±1.2Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Plainville 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 CT: 42.5% |
22.9%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
30% CT: 42.5% |
40.5% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.7%±2.6Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.9Lowest CT: 7.1% |
6.2%±1.6 CT: 7.1% |
5.5%±0.7 CT: 7.1% |
| Bolton and Plainville 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 |
$84,343±$7kLowest 12% 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 |
$254,000±$14k 31% below CT |
$247,100±$6kLowest 33% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,127±$55 24% below CT |
$1,044±$141Lowest 30% below CT |
$1,126±$147 24% below CT |
$1,519±$66Highest about the CT average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,091Highest 22% above CT |
$3,922Lowest 41% below CT |
$4,798 28% 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% |
40.3%±12.4 CT: 52.6% |
48.1%±6.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Manchester 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% |
6.5%Lowest CT: 10% |
10.8% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88%Highest CT: 66.5% |
71.6% CT: 66.5% |
67.7% 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 |
1971Highest 4 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 20% below CT |
23 min 15% below CT |
| Work from home | 20.7%±4.6Highest CT: 16% |
11.1%±2.3 CT: 16% |
10.7%±2Lowest CT: 16% |
14.3%±1.9 CT: 16% |
| Bolton and Manchester 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 | #89 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 | Judicial Centers · Plainville School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Odyssey Community School District |
| High school in town | Bolton High School | Killingly High School | Plainville High School | Manchester High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.4Lowest |
11.1 |
11.4Highest |
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.