Compare towns
Bolton vs Orange 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%).
Orange has the most expensive homes ($492k median).
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 | Orange | Manchester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,853Lowest |
14,315 |
59,635Highest |
| Median age | 43.7±3.3 6% above CT |
45.6±2.4Highest 11% above CT |
37±1.2Lowest 10% below CT |
| Orange 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% |
22.9%±2.5Highest CT: 20.2% |
20%±1.6Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Orange 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% |
23%±2.7Highest CT: 18.5% |
15.5%±1.2Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Orange 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% |
59.4%Highest CT: 42.5% |
40.5%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.7%±2.6Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.5%±2Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.5%±0.7Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Bolton and Orange 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 |
$142,325±$10kHighest 49% above CT |
$86,840±$4kLowest 9% below CT |
| Orange 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 |
$491,500±$17kHighest 34% above CT |
$247,100±$6kLowest 33% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,127±$55Lowest 24% below CT |
$2,172±$161Highest 46% above CT |
$1,519±$66 about the CT average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,091 22% above CT |
$8,988Highest 35% above CT |
$5,652Lowest 15% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.8%±30.8Lowest CT: 52.6% |
64%±12.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
48.1%±6.1 CT: 52.6% |
| Orange 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% |
3.9%Lowest CT: 10% |
10.8%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88% CT: 66.5% |
89.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
56.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Highest 2 yrs newer than CT |
1964 3 yrs older than CT |
1962Lowest 5 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 6% below CT |
28 minHighest 4% above CT |
23 minLowest 15% below CT |
| Work from home | 20.7%±4.6Highest CT: 16% |
15.6%±2.9 CT: 16% |
14.3%±1.9Lowest CT: 16% |
| Bolton and Orange 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 | #38 of 149 in CT | #135 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Bolton School District | Orange School District · Regional School District 05 | 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 |
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.