Compare towns
Bolton vs Lancaster vs Manchester
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 homeowners (88%).
Lancaster has the most people working from home (33.6%).
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 | Lancaster | Manchester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,853Lowest |
8,606 |
59,635Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 43.7±3.3Highest 12% above U.S. |
43.1±4.9 11% above U.S. |
37±1.2Lowest 5% below U.S. |
| Bolton and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20%±1.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 19.7%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.9%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lancaster 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% |
50.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
40.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.7%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.5%±0.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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±$19k 57% above U.S. |
$134,833±$27kHighest 67% above U.S. |
$86,840±$4kLowest 8% above U.S. |
| Lancaster 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. |
$519,100±$60kHighest 56% above U.S. |
$247,100±$6kLowest 26% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,127±$55Lowest 20% below U.S. |
$2,338±$539Highest 65% above U.S. |
$1,519±$66 8% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,091Highest 159% above U.S. |
$7,235 132% above U.S. |
$5,652Lowest 81% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.8%±30.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
68.3%±36.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.1%±6.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lancaster and Manchester 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% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
56.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Highest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1962Lowest 18 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 6% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 14% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.7%±4.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
33.6%±9.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.3%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lancaster 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 | #145 of 282 in MA | #135 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Bolton School District | Nashoba | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Odyssey Community School District |
| High school in town | Bolton High School | None in town | Manchester High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.4Lowest |
— | 11.1Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.