Compare towns
Bolton vs Putnam vs Suffield
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%).
Putnam has the most renters (40.2% rent).
Suffield has the most expensive homes ($408k median).
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 | Putnam | Suffield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,853Lowest |
9,292 |
15,702Highest |
| Median age | 43.7±3.3Lowest 6% above CT |
43.7±3Lowest 6% above CT |
44.5±1.7Highest 8% above CT |
| Suffield and Bolton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20%±3.6Highest CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.6 CT: 20.2% |
16.2%±2Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Bolton and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.7%±3.4Highest CT: 18.5% |
18.5%±3.1 CT: 18.5% |
18.4%±2.2Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Bolton and Putnam 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% |
20%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
40.4% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.7%±2.6Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
4.4%±1.2 CT: 7.1% |
| Bolton and Suffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $126,364±$19kHighest 32% above CT |
$70,561±$7kLowest 26% below CT |
$119,472±$13k 25% above CT |
| Bolton and Suffield 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 |
$269,200±$11kLowest 27% below CT |
$407,500±$26kHighest 11% above CT |
| Suffield and Bolton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,127±$55Lowest 24% below CT |
$1,149±$44 23% below CT |
$1,424±$141Highest 4% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,091Highest 22% above CT |
$3,860Lowest 42% below CT |
$6,456 about the CT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.8%±30.8 CT: 52.6% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest CT: 52.6% |
51%±4.6Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Suffield and Bolton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.2% CT: 10% |
11.5%Highest CT: 10% |
4.6%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88%Highest CT: 66.5% |
59.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
86.7% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969 2 yrs newer than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
1979Highest 12 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 6% below CT |
25 minLowest 6% below CT |
26 minHighest 3% below CT |
| Work from home | 20.7%±4.6Highest CT: 16% |
9%±2.8Lowest CT: 16% |
18.4%±4.1 CT: 16% |
| Bolton and Suffield 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 | #128 of 149 in CT | #57 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Bolton School District | Putnam School District | Suffield School District |
| High school in town | Bolton High School | Putnam High School | Suffield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.4Lowest |
9.5 |
10.9Highest |
| 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.