Compare towns
Bolton vs Killingly vs Thompson vs Manchester
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 most people working from home (20.7%).
Thompson has the oldest population (median age 54.1).
Manchester has the most renters (43.1% 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 | Thompson | Manchester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,853Lowest |
17,867 |
9,337 |
59,635Highest |
| Median age | 43.7±3.3 6% above CT |
39.5±3 4% below CT |
54.1±2.2Highest 32% above CT |
37±1.2Lowest 10% below CT |
| Kids under 18 | 20%±3.6Highest CT: 20.2% |
19.8%±2.3 CT: 20.2% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest CT: 20.2% |
20%±1.6Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Age 65+ | 19.7%±3.4 CT: 18.5% |
19.7%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
24.4%±4.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
15.5%±1.2Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Thompson 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 CT: 42.5% |
22.9% CT: 42.5% |
21.9%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
40.5% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.7%±2.6Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.9 CT: 7.1% |
2.9%±1.3Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.5%±0.7 CT: 7.1% |
| Bolton and Manchester 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 32% above CT |
$84,350±$8kLowest 12% below CT |
$93,629±$18k about the CT average |
$86,840±$4k 9% below CT |
| Bolton and Thompson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $367,600±$17kHighest about the CT average |
$288,600±$15k 21% below CT |
$291,900±$24k 20% below CT |
$247,100±$6kLowest 33% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,127±$55 24% below CT |
$1,044±$141 30% below CT |
$1,012±$344Lowest 32% below CT |
$1,519±$66Highest about the CT average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,091Highest 22% above CT |
$3,922 41% below CT |
$3,822Lowest 42% below CT |
$5,652 15% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.8%±30.8Lowest CT: 52.6% |
42.8%±10.9 CT: 52.6% |
54%±18.7Highest CT: 52.6% |
48.1%±6.1 CT: 52.6% |
| Thompson and Manchester 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% |
5.9%Lowest CT: 10% |
10.8% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88%Highest CT: 66.5% |
71.6% CT: 66.5% |
84.3% CT: 66.5% |
56.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Highest 2 yrs newer than CT |
1968 1 yr newer than CT |
1963 4 yrs older than CT |
1962Lowest 5 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 6% below CT |
28 min 5% above CT |
32 minHighest 20% above CT |
23 minLowest 15% below CT |
| Work from home | 20.7%±4.6Highest CT: 16% |
11.1%±2.3Lowest CT: 16% |
13.1%±4.4 CT: 16% |
14.3%±1.9 CT: 16% |
| Bolton and Manchester 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 | #130 of 149 in CT | #135 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Bolton School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Thompson School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Odyssey Community School District |
| High school in town | Bolton High School | Killingly High School | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | Manchester High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.4Lowest |
11.1Highest |
7.9 |
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.