Compare towns
Bolton vs Killingly vs Sutton 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 shortest commute (25 min average).
Killingly has the most affordable homes ($289k median).
Sutton has the most expensive homes ($523k 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 | Sutton | Salem |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,853 |
17,867Highest |
9,452 |
4,282Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | +4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 43.7±3.3 12% above U.S. |
39.5±3Lowest about the U.S. average |
44.3±2.5Highest 14% above U.S. |
40.9±5.4 5% above U.S. |
| Sutton 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% |
19.6%±3.3Lowest 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%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±2.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±4.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 51.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
22.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
52.8%Highest 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% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest 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±$19k 57% above U.S. |
$84,350±$8kLowest 4% above U.S. |
$147,125±$25kHighest 82% above U.S. |
$123,245±$8k 53% above U.S. |
| Sutton 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. |
$523,100±$47kHighest 57% above U.S. |
$403,600±$33k 21% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,127±$55 20% below U.S. |
$1,044±$141Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$1,190±$401 16% below U.S. |
$1,440±$150Highest about the U.S. average |
| Salem and Sutton 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. |
$6,763 117% 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% |
47.5%±24.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
32.1%±26Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Sutton 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% |
5.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7%Highest 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. |
1981 1 yr newer 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. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 19% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.7%±4.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18%±9.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sutton 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 | #105 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 | Sutton | Salem School District |
| High school in town | Bolton High School | Killingly High School | Sutton High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.4Lowest |
11.1 |
12.6Highest |
— |
| 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.