Compare towns
Bolton vs Killingly vs Thompson vs Marlborough
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 shortest commute (25 min average).
Killingly has the most renters (28.4% rent).
Thompson has the oldest population (median age 54.1).
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 | Thompson | Marlborough |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,853Lowest |
17,867Highest |
9,337 |
6,130 |
| Median age | 43.7±3.3 6% above CT |
39.5±3Lowest 4% below CT |
54.1±2.2Highest 32% above CT |
41.8±4.7 about the CT average |
| Kids under 18 | 20%±3.6 CT: 20.2% |
19.8%±2.3 CT: 20.2% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest CT: 20.2% |
23.6%±5.2Highest CT: 20.2% |
| 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 CT: 18.5% |
19.7%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
24.4%±4.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
16.3%±3.5Lowest 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% |
45.9% 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% |
5.1%±2.6 CT: 7.1% |
| Bolton and Killingly 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 32% above CT |
$84,350±$8kLowest 12% below CT |
$93,629±$18k about the CT average |
$142,105±$35kHighest 48% above CT |
| 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 about the CT average |
$288,600±$15kLowest 21% below CT |
$291,900±$24k 20% below CT |
$379,100±$33kHighest 3% above CT |
| Marlborough and Bolton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,127±$55 24% below CT |
$1,044±$141 30% below CT |
$1,012±$344Lowest 32% below CT |
$1,333±$438Highest 10% below CT |
| 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 22% above CT |
$3,922 41% below CT |
$3,822Lowest 42% below CT |
$7,397 11% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.8%±30.8Lowest CT: 52.6% |
42.8%±10.9 CT: 52.6% |
54%±18.7 CT: 52.6% |
59.2%±36Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Marlborough and Thompson 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% |
9.7% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88% CT: 66.5% |
71.6%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
84.3% CT: 66.5% |
92.6%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969 2 yrs newer than CT |
1968 1 yr newer than CT |
1963Lowest 4 yrs older than CT |
1977Highest 10 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 6% below CT |
28 min 5% above CT |
32 min 20% above CT |
34 minHighest 29% above CT |
| Work from home | 20.7%±4.6 CT: 16% |
11.1%±2.3Lowest CT: 16% |
13.1%±4.4 CT: 16% |
33.2%±8.9Highest CT: 16% |
| 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 | #130 of 149 in CT | #52 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 | Marlborough School District |
| High school in town | Bolton High School | Killingly High School | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.4Lowest |
11.1Highest |
7.9 |
— |
| 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.