Compare towns
Bolton vs Killingly vs Southwick 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).
Southwick has the oldest population (median age 46.8).
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 | Southwick | Salem |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,853 |
17,867Highest |
9,217 |
4,282Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | -2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 43.7±3.3 12% above U.S. |
39.5±3Lowest about the U.S. average |
46.8±1.8Highest 20% above U.S. |
40.9±5.4 5% above U.S. |
| Southwick and Bolton 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% |
18.2%±3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Southwick 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% |
35.1% 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% |
4.5%±1.7Lowest 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. |
$120,462±$16k 49% 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. |
$397,500±$27k 19% above U.S. |
$403,600±$33kHighest 21% above U.S. |
| Salem and Southwick 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. |
$1,332±$72 6% below U.S. |
$1,440±$150Highest about the U.S. average |
| Salem and Southwick 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. |
$5,331 71% 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% |
51%±10Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
32.1%±26Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Southwick 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% |
4%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% |
83.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 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 8% 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% |
16.2%±5.1 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 | #211 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 | Southwick-Tolland-Granville Regional School District | Salem School District |
| High school in town | Bolton High School | Killingly High School | Southwick Regional School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.4Lowest |
11.1Highest |
11.0 |
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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.