Compare towns
Bolton vs Plainville vs Andover
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%).
Plainville has the most affordable homes ($254k median).
Andover has the oldest population (median age 51.2).
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 | Plainville | Andover |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,853 |
17,551Highest |
3,152Lowest |
| Median age | 43.7±3.3Lowest 6% above CT |
44.3±1.5 8% above CT |
51.2±5.4Highest 25% above CT |
| Kids under 18 | 20%±3.6Highest CT: 20.2% |
15.6%±2.3Lowest CT: 20.2% |
16.2%±4.4 CT: 20.2% |
| Bolton and Andover 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% |
20.1%±2.8Highest CT: 18.5% |
19.2%±5.1Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Plainville 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% |
30%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
46.5% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.7%±2.6 CT: 7.1% |
6.2%±1.6Lowest CT: 7.1% |
8.2%±4.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Andover and Bolton 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 |
$84,343±$7kLowest 12% below CT |
$134,632±$20kHighest 41% above CT |
| Andover 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 |
$254,000±$14kLowest 31% below CT |
$376,500±$36kHighest about the CT average |
| Andover 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 |
$1,126±$147Lowest 24% below CT |
$1,166±$745Highest 22% below CT |
| Andover 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 |
$4,798Lowest 28% below CT |
$6,554 about the CT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.8%±30.8Lowest CT: 52.6% |
40.3%±12.4 CT: 52.6% |
60.8%±38.4Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Andover and Plainville 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% |
6.5% CT: 10% |
1.8%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88% CT: 66.5% |
67.7%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
93.1%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Lowest 2 yrs newer than CT |
1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
1977Highest 10 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 6% below CT |
21 minLowest 20% below CT |
25 minHighest 5% below CT |
| Work from home | 20.7%±4.6Highest CT: 16% |
10.7%±2Lowest CT: 16% |
15.5%±5.4 CT: 16% |
| Bolton and Andover 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 | #89 of 149 in CT | #43 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Bolton School District | Judicial Centers · Plainville School District | Andover School District |
| High school in town | Bolton High School | Plainville High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.4Lowest |
11.4Highest |
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| 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.