Compare towns
Bolton vs Killingly vs Sturbridge vs Vernon
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 shortest commute (25 min average).
Sturbridge has the most expensive homes ($426k median).
Vernon has the most renters (46.8% 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 | Sturbridge | Vernon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,853Lowest |
17,867 |
9,960 |
30,577Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | +6.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 43.7±3.3 12% above U.S. |
39.5±3 about the U.S. average |
47.2±2.6Highest 21% above U.S. |
39.4±2.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Sturbridge 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% |
20.7%±3Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Sturbridge 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% |
19.8%±3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.6%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Sturbridge 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% |
49.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
38% 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% |
4.6%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.8%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Vernon and Bolton 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 57% above U.S. |
$84,350±$8kLowest 4% above U.S. |
$136,759±$15kHighest 69% above U.S. |
$85,356±$6k 6% above U.S. |
| Sturbridge 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±$15k 13% below U.S. |
$425,800±$18kHighest 28% above U.S. |
$275,500±$11kLowest 17% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,127±$55 20% below U.S. |
$1,044±$141Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$1,193±$398 16% below U.S. |
$1,425±$77Highest about the U.S. average |
| Vernon and Sturbridge 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. |
$6,520 109% above U.S. |
$5,804 86% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.8%±30.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
42.8%±10.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
42%±17.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
39.3%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Killingly and Sturbridge 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
13.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
53.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
38 minHighest 43% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 20.7%±4.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.8%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Bolton and Sturbridge 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 282 in MA | #107 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Bolton School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Sturbridge · Tantasqua | Vernon School District |
| High school in town | Bolton High School | Killingly High School | Tantasqua Regional Sr High | Rockville High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.4Lowest |
11.1 |
7.7 |
12.1Highest |
| 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.