Compare towns
Bolton vs Killingly vs Smithfield vs Marlborough
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 oldest population (median age 43.7).
Killingly has the most affordable homes ($289k median).
Smithfield has the most expensive homes ($446k median).
Marlborough has the most people working from home (33.2%).
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 | Smithfield | Marlborough |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,853Lowest |
17,867 |
22,233Highest |
6,130 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | +3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 43.7±3.3Highest 12% above U.S. |
39.5±3Lowest about the U.S. average |
41.8±2.6 7% above U.S. |
41.8±4.7 7% above U.S. |
| Bolton and Smithfield 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%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Marlborough and Bolton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.7%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.1%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.3%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Smithfield 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% |
40% U.S.: 35.7% |
45.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.7%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
16.7%±0.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $126,364±$19k 57% above U.S. |
$84,350±$8kLowest 4% above U.S. |
$102,077±$8k 26% above U.S. |
$142,105±$35kHighest 76% above U.S. |
| 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 10% above U.S. |
$288,600±$15kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$446,400±$12kHighest 34% above U.S. |
$379,100±$33k 14% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,127±$55 20% below U.S. |
$1,044±$141 26% below U.S. |
$1,016±$241Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,333±$438Highest 6% below U.S. |
| Marlborough and Bolton 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. |
$5,207 67% above U.S. |
$7,397 137% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.8%±30.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.8%±10.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±17.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
59.2%±36Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Marlborough and Smithfield 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% |
6.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 6% below U.S. |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 7% below U.S. |
34 minHighest 29% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.7%±4.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
33.2%±8.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #8 of 38 in RI | #52 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Bolton School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Smithfield | Marlborough School District |
| High school in town | Bolton High School | Killingly High School | Smithfield High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.4Lowest |
11.1 |
11.8Highest |
— |
| 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.