Compare towns
Bolton vs Millis 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).
Millis has the most expensive homes ($604k 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 | Millis | Salem |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,853 |
8,888Highest |
4,282Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +7.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 43.7±3.3 12% above U.S. |
46.4±3Highest 19% above U.S. |
40.9±5.4Lowest 5% above U.S. |
| Millis 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% |
18.4%±2.8Lowest 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%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.5%±3.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Millis 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
50.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.7%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.6Lowest 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. |
$155,996±$9kHighest 93% above U.S. |
$123,245±$8kLowest 53% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $367,600±$17kLowest 10% above U.S. |
$603,500±$31kHighest 81% above U.S. |
$403,600±$33k 21% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,127±$55Lowest 20% below U.S. |
$1,696±$279Highest 20% above U.S. |
$1,440±$150 about the U.S. average |
| Millis and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,091 159% above U.S. |
$9,344Highest 200% above U.S. |
$6,668Lowest 114% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.8%±30.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
56.5%±16.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
32.1%±26Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Millis and Bolton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
31 min 16% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 19% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.7%±4.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.5%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18%±9.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #63 of 282 in MA | #11 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Bolton School District | Millis | Salem School District |
| High school in town | Bolton High School | Millis High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.4Lowest |
10.7Highest |
— |
| 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.