Compare towns
Bolton vs Killingly vs Redding 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).
Redding has the most expensive homes ($706k 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 | Redding | Salem |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,853 |
17,867Highest |
8,780 |
4,282Lowest |
| Median age | 43.7±3.3 6% above CT |
39.5±3Lowest 4% below CT |
52±2Highest 27% above CT |
40.9±5.4 about the CT average |
| Kids under 18 | 20%±3.6 CT: 20.2% |
19.8%±2.3 CT: 20.2% |
19.1%±2.8Lowest 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%±3.4Lowest CT: 18.5% |
19.7%±2.4Lowest CT: 18.5% |
26.4%±3.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
19.7%±4.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Redding 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% CT: 42.5% |
22.9%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
72.1%Highest 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% |
3.8%±1.8Lowest 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 |
$186,060±$15kHighest 94% above CT |
$123,245±$8k 29% above CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $367,600±$17k about the CT average |
$288,600±$15kLowest 21% below CT |
$706,300±$33kHighest 93% above CT |
$403,600±$33k 10% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,127±$55 24% below CT |
$1,044±$141Lowest 30% below CT |
$2,101±$304Highest 41% above CT |
$1,440±$150 3% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,091 22% above CT |
$3,922Lowest 41% below CT |
$10,000+Highest at least 51% 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% |
64.9%±19.3Highest CT: 52.6% |
32.1%±26Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Redding 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% |
4%Lowest CT: 10% |
6.2% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88% CT: 66.5% |
71.6%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
91.6%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 |
1972 5 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 |
36 minHighest 36% above CT |
32 min 19% above CT |
| Work from home | 20.7%±4.6 CT: 16% |
11.1%±2.3Lowest CT: 16% |
32.5%±4.9Highest CT: 16% |
18%±9.6 CT: 16% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #79 of 149 in CT | #136 of 149 in CT | #14 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 | Redding School District · Regional School District 09 | Salem School District |
| High school in town | Bolton High School | Killingly High School | Joel Barlow High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.4Lowest |
11.1Highest |
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.