Compare towns
Bolton vs Middlebury vs Salem
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%).
Middlebury has the most expensive homes ($476k median).
Salem has the youngest population (median age 40.9).
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 | Middlebury | Salem |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,853 |
7,807Highest |
4,282Lowest |
| Median age | 43.7±3.3 6% above CT |
44.4±2.3Highest 8% above CT |
40.9±5.4Lowest about the CT average |
| Middlebury and Bolton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20%±3.6Lowest CT: 20.2% |
22%±3.8 CT: 20.2% |
23.2%±5.1Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Salem and Middlebury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.7%±3.4Lowest CT: 18.5% |
22.7%±4.2Highest CT: 18.5% |
19.7%±4.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Middlebury 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% CT: 42.5% |
53.3%Highest CT: 42.5% |
50.6%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.7%±2.6Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.8%±2.8Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.8%±3.3Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Bolton and Middlebury 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 |
$133,487±$26kHighest 39% above CT |
$123,245±$8kLowest 29% above CT |
| Middlebury 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±$17kLowest about the CT average |
$476,400±$23kHighest 30% above CT |
$403,600±$33k 10% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,127±$55 24% below CT |
$398±$387Lowest 73% below CT |
$1,440±$150Highest 3% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,091 22% above CT |
$8,434Highest 27% above CT |
$6,668Lowest about the CT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.8%±30.8Highest CT: 52.6% |
12.7%±6.9Lowest CT: 52.6% |
32.1%±26 CT: 52.6% |
| Bolton and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.2%Highest CT: 10% |
5.8%Lowest CT: 10% |
6.2% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88%Highest CT: 66.5% |
87.8% CT: 66.5% |
86.6%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Lowest 2 yrs newer than CT |
1976 9 yrs newer than CT |
1988Highest 21 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 6% below CT |
25 min 5% below CT |
32 minHighest 19% above CT |
| Work from home | 20.7%±4.6Highest CT: 16% |
15.3%±3.2Lowest CT: 16% |
18%±9.6 CT: 16% |
| Bolton and Salem 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 | #55 of 149 in CT | #11 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Bolton School District | Regional School District 15 | Salem School District |
| High school in town | Bolton High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.4 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.